Going into my first listen of Bon Iver's 22, A Million, I was just interested to see what new direction he was going in. I wanted to know what new ideals or ideas all of these new sounds that he was working with would help to form. I left that first listen slightly perplexed and unsure of what I actually thought of the album. However, on my second listen I went in with no pretentions, and I discovered something: this is the same Justin Vernon that we've known since 2008. He's still just trying ... read more

OVERLOOKED GEMS (#3)

Funcrusher Plus is not really underrated per se; most any review of it is overwhelmingly positive. However, due to the fact that it is not available digitally, it has become increasingly more obscure and underappreciated in the digital age. That's a shame, because this is possibly the best rap album of all time.*

Company Flow is made up of there memhers: MC Bigg Jus, DJ and producer Mr. Ken, and MC and producer El-P. El is by far the best member of the collective ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#18)

With Atrocity Exhibition, Danny has created what is, hands down, the most left-field, crazy rap release of 2016. I also happen to think it's the best rap release of 2016. Period.

Atrocity Exhibition features a smorgasbord of varied and often obtuse beats. Songs like "Dance in the Water," "When It Rain," and "Lost" seem nearly impossible to rap over. These are full blown and, at many points, maximalistic electronic tracks. These beats ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#17)

Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam has to be one of the best collaborative projects I have heard in some time.

Leithauser, as the lead singer of The Walkmen and on his own solo material, has always been known for his full force, devastating voice that conveys both longing and desperation in equal amounts. The album opener and lead single, "1000 Times" follows in the tradition of the best Hamilton Leithauser songs, such as "The Rat," "Angela Surf ... read more

Care is bombastically mediocre.

Tom Krell has been making R&B music as How to Dress Well since the outset of the 2010's, and he's pretty good at it, too. 2014's What Is This Heart? was a particularly beautiful album that smartly balanced his pop style with his aching, insular songwriting sensibilities. His new album, Care sounds similar musically. However, it is simply lacking the great songwriting that set his past albums apart.

Tom's beautiful voice is on display in full force across ... read more

OVERLOOKED GEMS (#2)

People tend to write off the 80's as a lost decade for Dylan. I happen to totally disagree with this sentiment. In my opinion, Saved, Shot of Love, Empire Burlesque, and Oh Mercy are all pretty good albums. I certainly think his 80's output was far superior to his 90's output. However, the real overlooked gem of Dylan's 80's is the masterpiece (approximately his tenth album that deserves this distinction), Infidels.

Infidels begins with one of the best songs of Dylan's ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#16)

I had heard of Cymbals Eat Guitars, but they weren't really on my radar until the release of their 2014 LP, LOSE. That record turned out to be one of the more purely enjoyable and cathartic releases of the year.

That success was largely because of the bands ability to tap into that wellworn "alt-rock" sound that most every white suburban kid has some level of nostalgia for. However, many bands do that every year. Some are much more successful than Cymbals ... read more

OVERLOOKED GEMS (#1)

Written and recorded almost entirely by Brian Wilson, this proto-synthpop album was an oddity for the Beach Boys in any era of their existence. However, one aspect made it even more of an oddity for the post-Surf's Up Beach Boys; it is a good album.

Love You is a genuinely strange album. The instrumentals are composed, almost entirely, with a Moog synthesizer, occasional piano, sparse horns, and simple drum beats. The lyrics are mostly Brian's childish pleas for love, ... read more

It seems that I am in the minority, but, as a longtime M.I.A. fan, this is my favorite album of her's since KALA. This is one of those peculiar albums that I understand all of the criticisms about it, but I enjoy it partially in spite of those reasons and partially BECAUSE of those reasons.

One of the many criticisms of this album is that the production is simultaneously too conventional and too packed full of parts. I agree that the production is fairly conventional compared to her other ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#15)

I got goosebumps as soon as I pressed play, and they didn't go away until after I had listened to the entire album.

UPDATE: After reading all of the other overwrought, pretentious reviews of this album, I now feel ashamed of my equally pretentious review and would like to publicly disown it. Nonetheless, this is still the most devastating album of the year.

Score: 9.0/10

Wilco has taken on many forms over the past 20+ years. However, their latest incarnation, which began with last year's excellent Star Wars, is arguably their best and most interesting since they gave into the pleasures of "dad rock" after A Ghost Is Born. Star Wars found Wilco seemingly no longer concerned with their legacy. All across that record, the men of Wilco weren't trying to be subversive, overly serious, or even overly lighthearted. They were simply writing good songs, and it ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#14)

If you have not already listened to this album, go and do so now. You may never have heard of Olsen, or you may be her biggest fan. You may adore modern indie songwriters such as Waxahatchee, Sufjan Stevens, Mac Demarco, and Olsen herself, or you may not care for them at all. You may have liked Olsen’s previous output, or you may not have. None of that matters. What matters is that this is one of the tightest and most purely enjoyable set of songs that I’ve ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#13)

Thugga has always been a contentious figure in the world of hip hop. After the release of his mixtape 1017 Thug back in early 2013, Young Thug began receiving praise from prominent publications such as Pitchfork and Rolling Stone as a melodically interesting and unique presence in modern hip hop. Meanwhile the “real hip hop” heads have been critical from the beginning.

I get the feeling that this mixtape is somehow a game changer for Thugga. While I am ... read more

In the fight to stay relevant or, if they are to be believed, to start some vague, nonsensical "political crusade" (but seriously, it's a cynical relevancy bid), core members of Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, and Cypress Hill have formed a "supergroup." They claim to be here to bring the power back to the people, and then proceed to record two covers of Public Enemy songs, one Rage against the Machine song, and "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" (?). In addition, the ... read more

Ka is among the most quietly incredible rappers currently working in the game right now. His flow never really breaks, and he never raises his voice above an assured murmur, so you have to actually concentrate on what it is he is saying to enjoy the full effect of his music. However, when you do, you will likely be in awe.

Not only is Ka’s flow technically perfect, but his internal rhyme and alliteration are at or above the level of modern masters such as El-P, DOOM, and Earl ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#12)

Blonde is, somehow, a progression for Frank Ocean.

Back in 2012, Frank released what is debatably (shoutout to D'Angelo) the best R&B album of the decade thus far. Since 2013, there have been rumors and whisperings of a followup album, but, until now, no music ever made its way to the public or the ears of Frank's eager fans. This weekend, that all changed. Frank released two album-length projects; simultaneously blowing away expectations and subverting them. ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#11)

Directly before listening to this EP, I happened to be watching the episode of Bojack Horseman "Fish Out of Water." This entire episode takes place underwater. There is (almost) no dialogue, and it is soundtracked by mostly ambient music. As it turns out, that was a perfect setup for listening to In Summer.

Due to the claustrophobic, lo-fi sound and flowing synths on this EP, listening to it FEELS like you are constantly underwater. At times, you can almost ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#10)

Noname (AKA Noname Gypsy) is best known for her melancholy features for Chance the Rapper. She is usually never thought of as her own entity, but she is always a highlight on the tracks to which she adds her voice, much like Vince Staples before Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2 and Hell Can Wait. Now, with Telefone, Noname has her chance to shine.

Her flow is still impeccable, and her monotone delivery is reminiscent of other rappers, such as Gucci Mane and Earl Sweatshirt, but ... read more

I don't know if it's the delivery or the heavy-handed metaphors, but I just cannot get on board with the vocals and lyrics on this release. The cringe worthy chorus (and verses) of "Big Cat" start the album off on a truly flat note. The titular simile on "Tough Guy" makes it clear: the boys of Wild Beasts are taking on the tropes of masculinity with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and lyrics that are about as clever as those found on the last Fall Out Boy album. *shudder* ... read more

ALBUM OF THE WEEK (#9)

NAO blasted onto the indie music scene last year with her fantastic EP, February 15. Now, NAO has quickly returned with her first full length LP, For All We Know.

NAO is an interesting figure for a few reasons. For one, she has a very unique and ear-catching voice that separates her from the rest of the Neo-Soul pack. The other thing that makes her intriguing is her ear for wonky, laid back, drunken beats that she shares with her collaborator AK Paul and his more well ... read more