Squid's debut album Bright Green Field continually surprises by delivering soft/loud lyrics reminiscent of the Pixies, varied instrumentation like the Talking Heads, and experimental jam outs calling back to Can. These elements allow for the band to push the post-punk renaissance genre into new territories. Squid call attention to a variety of frustrations of their generation through oft repeated lyrics that grow in intensity throughout each song. GSK warps the seemingly innocuous idea of ... read more

Released the same summer as Nevermind by Nirvana, Ten may be overlooked due to its proximity to one of the greatest grunge (and overall) albums of all time. However, the album stands the test of time and creates some of the highest highs of the era. Even Flow and Alive are just as good as you remember them when they were blaring in your Aunt's car - with Vedder belching over the top of running guitars and bass lines. In the middle of the album with Black and Jeremy, Vedder turns up the ... read more

Sympathy for Life shows Parquet Courts at their best and most funky at its peaks and most accessible and boring(?) at its lows. Highlights such as Walking at a Downtown Pace encapsulate the chaotic yet rhythmic pace that powers through all the best Parquet Courts records. Like everyone losing their minds, they are "waiting for the day all of this is through" as they launch into a propulsive drum and bass lines that drive the song forward at a frenetic downtown pace. Despite these ... read more

The latest in a long list of pop stars to take the covid year to create a stripped down introspective album. While the lyrics are great and the production is clean, there is little that draws me in or separates this album from many of the other "covid pop" albums.

Kevin Parker delves into 70's psychedelic rock but with a modern twist. Channeling his inner John Lennon on Sgt Pepper, Parker pounds you layered production that oscillates in intensity with a thumping bass line that carries through the album. The highlight of the album is the 4 song collection beginning with Why Won't Talk to Me that is as good of an album stretch as any in recent memory. On WWTM, Parker expresses his isolation and goes through various stages of grieving - sadness, pleading, ... read more

Composed solely by samples, the avalanches somehow turn old sketch comedy, pop, soul, jazz and literally every other genre into a masterpiece that is infinitely danceable.

FKA Twigs simplifies her production and focuses solely on her stunning voice and all the emotion that it carries in all but a few songs on the album. With a focus on how people are often viewed differently in the context of relationships versus as an individual (like Mary Magdelane), Twigs is able to effortlessly weave through contempt, jealousy, vulnerabilty, and ultimately strength as she finds power within herself despite feeling attacked from all angles.

There's ahead of their time, and then there's the velvet underground and nico. You wouldn't be mistaken for listening to the album and assuming it came out in the late 70's or even the 2000s. This album laid the groundword for a whole host of genres that are commonplace today: new wave, garage rock, alternative, and more. The diversity of sounds that the velvet underground explores on this album is breathtaking, yet somehow remains cohesive around a central theme of drugs and sex, two topics ... read more

Sudan Archives is incredibly unique - featuring her solo violin work with alternative and r&b influences (with a little african influence sprinkled in). It is easy to be entranced by her creative style. However, sometimes its hard sticking around in her world for too long - despite the creativity, it lacks cohesion to keep me entranced for more than a few songs. Definitely an exciting album that offers a lot of future potential for Sudan Archives.

This album feels like Jeff Magnum pulled up a few feet away from you with his guitar and whatever other weird instruments he could find and just began telling you some strange story about his life merged with that of Anne Frank. At times confusing and odd, you can't help but find yourself on the edge of the seat as he bares his soul in the most unusual of formats. Afterwards, he gets up and walks out without saying a word. You're left with many more questions than you started with and the only ... read more

Released not long after UFOF, Two Hands tones down the production and manages to feel even more intimate because of it. On certain songs, such as Not and Forgotten Eyes this is used to perfection as you can hear the vulnerabilty and power in Lenklers voice. At other times, it feels more like a poor recording, such as in the first half of Forgotten Eyes. Overall, a fantastic follow up to UFOF that feels even more raw and powerful, although slightly lacking in the polish and grandeur.

Stunning intimacy despite discussing topics as far out as ufos and aliens. Lenkler welcomes you into her strange world with beatiful descriptions and names of friends and family who feel like they've been in your life just as long as they've been in hers. UFOF and Cattails are standouts from the album.

Kendrick puts out potentially his best album in terms of pure rapping ability, which he has continued to improve throughout his career. On DNA, Kendrick shows his full ability to rap with speed without any loss in clarity or rhythm. Certain songs on the album further show Kendrick's out of this world story telling ability, as can be heard on Duckworth and Fear. However, the album as a whole lacks the cohesion that was seen on TPAB and GKMC, and certain songs definitely feel as though they were ... read more

Kendrick's coming of age story plays out throughout the album in comedic, touching, and at times terrifying fashion throughout the album. We begin with a young K Dot who is easily influenced by peer pressure and only has eyes for women and money. As he starts to find success, he becomes boistrous and selfish. However, the realities of growing up in Compton bring Kendrick back down to Earth. Both personal struggles and the maddening repression of Compton make Kendrick's situation seem impossible ... read more

A flawless album on which Kendrick communicates his faults, frustrations and desires to the world, his idol Tupac, and himself. Released near the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, Kendrick sets the tone for how many feel at this time as he voices his anger but continued belief in the strenght of the African American community in the song Alright, which becomes an anthem of sorts for the movement. He is able to further examine race relations as he shares his own faults in elevating the ... read more

Nick Drake is often considered to be the embodiment of melancholy. Listening to Pink Moon, you can feel the pain that Drake is going through, yet he never comes off as whiney or emotional. His phenomenal embodiment of isolation and melancholy that many experience but few can put into words makes up for somewhat vague lyrics and questionable production. The emotions expressed on the album are only heightened knowing about Drake's tragic suicide shortly following the release of the album.

Great Kanye production as always and the incorporation of gospel is interesting. However, at times Kanye feels like a shitty priest who is just quoting scripture at you rather than trying to make you believe through his own action and feelings. In this way it feels much less authentic and genuine than Chance on Coloring Book. Follow God is an absolute banger tho.