Albums like this are why I sometimes think the best thing that can happen to a band is an abrupt ending before an ugly decline. Just imagine how revered Megadeth would be if Dave had dropped dead in '94!

I've maintained an indifference of IDK and his music for years at this point. This mixtape was fun, quirky and overall enjoyable. I just wish IDK was saying more substantive things.

It's inherently pleasing to see an obscure band I enjoy cover obscure songs from other obscure bands I love. And given the Xiu Xiu treatment, these songs take on new and ugly forms and even grow on you after awhile.

Another band worth watching as time carries us forward. Westside Cowboy bring a fun pop energy to what is otherwise a perfectly fine indie rock EP. Excited to see how they'll sonically commit on their full length debut.

Atmospheric, noisy, math-forward indie rock music hits a lot of my personal checkboxes, and for a debut it's impressively confident with few rough edges. Not mind-blowing, but a strong start and an easy band to root for.

I don't know who Madison Beer is, I chose this album based solely on her name. So, with a six-pack on my lap, I pressed play, expecting some kind of drinking-game soundtrack. Instead, I got drunk alone to a heap of bland sad-girl pop.

The first major release of the year. No albums have ever been worth a wait of longer than 5 years and this is no exception. That being said, the album is enjoyable albeit a little bloated.
#RELEASETHEMORRISSEYSONG

The eight minutes of this surprise-dropped EP leave little behind once the novelty wears off, airtight production notwithstanding. As a follow-up to Andy Warhol, and an especially slight one, at that, it’s hard not to feel let down.

The nostalgia captured here is not done accidentally. Wait, What Did You Say?'s debut channels hazy, noisy adolescence into a taproot of the new generation's all-too-familiar anxieties. It's only up from here!

Bloated album, I can't lie to you. I like Zach Bryan on GP, but this is on the weaker end of his discography. Some really good songs here and nothing that's absolutely terrible either! Ultimately, a long listen with too few standout moments.

Him barely breeching the water's surface is a metaphor for this album drowning in cliche. It's clear LAROI wants to follow in the footsteps of his heroes Usher and Chris Brown, and would rather be remembered as a sex pest than an artist of merit.

I am reminded in a lot of ways of a lot of my favorite post-punk bands with this album. But as the dreary one-dimensional vocals croon onward, I find myself further disinterested.

I'm not a K-Pop guy, though I'm sure one day an album will come that will change my mind on that; this isn't that. This is a pretty uninspired pop album that, thankfully, doesn't overstay its welcome.

Man, I thoroughly enjoyed this album from top to bottom. Fun progressive and jazz passages laden with some exciting Chilean sort of talk-singing. An incredible way to start the year off, I look forward to more when it comes.

My first time hearing the work of heavensouls and stickerbush. There were a lot or really, really cool ideas on this thing sonically, I just wish it would have taken those ideas further.

My-Lovely-Yellow-Kombi mirrors its cover art with an uncanny accuracy, where the music feels in constant motion toward the stars, though it can drag in spots. May be the first great album this year.

Starting the year off with a bang! *pshooo*
Paleface Swiss' EP, The Wilted, sounds satirical, almost like some spiteful parody of metal music; yet, this band of Slipknot worshippers are legitimately trying to impress here. For that reason, it's good for a laugh, but not much else.