Gojira comes out with another very strong record to add to their impressive discography of technical extreme metal. It doesn't quite reach the heights of their very best releases, and it certainly doesn't muscle out the other fantastic experimental heavy releases this year from my personal year-end list, but it's certainly an honorable mention. It doesn't exactly push the envelope for them, though. Just keep that in mind.

Oh yeah, it's so EPIC, dude!!! Listen to those POWER CHORDS!! And those SOLOS! And the OPERATIC SINGING!! And the totally BADASS* artwork of Eddie as a SAMURAI!! This is totally not what a juvenile's idea of mature music is at all!

Sounds like every other Iron Maiden record. And if you like that, then have at it. To me, this is an overly long (an hour and twenty-two cursed minutes!) slog of a record that offers absolutely nothing new to the world of metal, rock, or music in general. Your white ... read more

A great modern classical album full of excellent use of modern electronics and more traditional composition. I still have it in my "loved" list for the year despite it not quite making THE list. The problem for me is that there is another album out there already doing what this album does but in a much leaner, more exciting way. And that album, of course, is "The Blue of Distance" from Elori Saxl. That record really pushes the envelope in ways that this record simply does ... read more

I have to admit, it's been pretty sweet in recent years being able to admit that I've never enjoyed Drake's music and no longer being afraid of backlash.

Progressive rap pioneer Little Simz comes back with a vengeance on a shimmering, epic hip-hop opera that is easily the best record she has released to date. Baroque rap meets concept album meets ethnic groove jazz, a combination of genres and styles that would be chaotic in less capable hands, shines brightly as one of the very best releases of the year (and perhaps the decade).

Little Simz has created here an immense concept album telling the story of her (or a fictionalized representation of ... read more

Well, this record sure came out of nowhere and slapped me cross the face with its awesomeness! I love Ragu's ability to seamlessly weave her cultural heritage into the music, flavoring the R&B stylings with something entirely her own and guaranteeing that we will hear no other album quite like it this year.

The 1980s saw some pretty great musical moments thanks to the greats such as Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Joy Division, and others. But that decade also inflicted on us some of the worst music known to man in the form of (let's be honest) most '80s pop, and also the majority of the early heavy metal acts that ranged from the glitzy hair metal of Poison and Motley Crue to the juvenile "shocking!"TM stylings of Kiss, Alice Cooper and yes, Quiet Riot. In all these cases, the selling ... read more

I tried desperately to like this one. Daniel Gildenlow was a huge influence on me back in the day, and "Remedy Lane" is one of my favorite albums of all time. But those glory days seem to be over for Pain of Salvation, and while I appreciate that they were attempting to be topical, the narrative just doesn't work. The melodramatic nature of much of Gildenlow's lyricism and performance suits better more personal, emotional stories that can be given the theatrical treatment without any ... read more

A fun, half-serious collection of '80s muzak covers that turns the tunes into more experimental, artful versions of their former selves, and I have to say, I'm loving the result.

Damn. Where has Angel Olsen been all my life? This was my first exposure to her work, so I suppose my reaction to this has been different from her more seasoned fans. I was absolutely struck by the raw production of the instruments contrasting against her perfectly produced, ethereal vocals. This is what country is all about when its genuine and real - - the stories, and the emotion. Apparently this is a collection of stripped-down versions of songs off of Olsen's prior LP "All ... read more

I've been a fan of Tinashe since "Aquarius," so I'm not as shocked as some others on here who seem to have only just discovered her (where have you all been?!). But yes... She's knocked another one out of the park with this release.

Earlier this year I wrote that Yola's latest release was the best modern style R&B record I've heard since Lizzo's "Cuz I Love You" from 2019. That was before I listened to "333." It might not quite be my favorite of hers, but it's ... read more

When I kept hearing that this record was this year's "Punisher," I was more than a little excited to check it out. After all, "Punisher" was one of my top ten albums of 2020, and has quickly also become one of my favorite albums of all time. If another record could capture that same haunting feel while gradually shifting from one genre to another over the course of its run time, then sign me up.

What I didn't bargain for was a record that literally just mimics the sound of ... read more

This album came at a time when the experimental side of rock was still in its infancy and it was considered impressive to simply add strings to your otherwise-predictable, otherwise-boring tunes that wouldn't have received praise on their own. This is that phenomenon in long-play form. I realize that this is seen as a classic by so many, but I was thoroughly bored for the entirety of its run. Other bands and artists were experimenting with rock music around this same time that were already ... read more

This is how you do modern space rock! Unlike many other contemporary releases in this vein, "Deep Fried Grandeur" is reverent toward its influences without being married to the genre tropes.

Ryley Walker's space-folk stylings merge well with Kikagaku Moyo's jam band approach to long-form songwriting, bringing it all together to really make this listening experience something special and tempered that takes its time getting into its trance-like grooves and pockets that become ... read more

On this album of duets, I shouldn't be surprised that Jamie Stewart is joined across the songs by so many singers from other projects that I respect the hell out of. Of course all the musicians I dig are besties! Why wouldn't they be?

This record sees Xiu Xiu slowing down a bit after their arguable magnum opus "Girl with Basket of Fruit" from 2019, but the slower pace doesn't mean the psychotic pair compromises their signature strangeness at all. For all its tenderness and sweetness, ... read more

My personal favorite of the Ladies' catalogue. It's joyous, humorous, lyrically clever, catchy as hell, and arguably the most mature and thoughtful of their records.

Yeah, let's name our album after a far superior one by one of the most celebrated rock bands in history. That won't age poorly at all.

If you have been fortunate enough to have never had an Insane Clown Posse track inflicted on you, then you might wonder if everything you've heard about the duo is actually possible. Well, I am here to assure you that yes--their music really is that bad. Not only is their flow sloppy, but the bars are inane, the instrumentation is horrendously bad (at times coming across as musically illiterate), and the message is frivolous.

Here's the deal: I.C.P. is an Evangelical Christian Rap-Rock outfit ... read more

A bit of context: this is the very first song I ever listened to after losing my virginity. So at the time, pretty much anything that came on the radio at the time would have probably sounded like god's gift to the world to me. But looking back, this song is every bit as bland as the rest of Disturbed's output. Except the music video is even worse, as it frivolously depicts depicts a suicide for dramatic effect. Pretty despicable stuff.

The only Disturbed record I personally think could qualify as good due to its much improved instrumentation, but of course it is all ultimately held back from becoming anything outstanding by Draiman's incessant barking and repetitive lyrics. It was nice of Johnny Cash to autograph that photo for ol' Dave and inscribe the message "keep metal alive!" (yes, that really did happen!), but Johnny's pleas would ultimately go unheeded, as Disturbed was destined to remain infamous in the ... read more