AOTY users don't want you to have good role models

I’m so glad this didn’t go under my radar. This is such a unique hip hop album. Incorporating super weird jazz instrumentals that almost flow into free jazz territory in gangsta rap is something I need to hear more of. Definitely one of the best hip hop albums of the year.

Standouts: Welcome to 76, Detroit River Rock, B.B. Butcher, Middle of Next Month, Mommy Dearest (a eulogy), Birth of Bold (the christening), Requiem, God Flicked (the rebirth)

Came out pleasantly surprised with this one. This is a pretty solid album. Lil Tjay has these really catchy melodies and he can’t definitely flow, putting him above a lot of his contemporaries at the moment. The production is also solid throughout.

Damn I hate this. I once liked the song WHATS POPPIN but by now it’s gotten kinda bad in my eyes. Too bad that’s the best song on this thing. There’s just nothing to like about this. Harlow comes off as not having really anything to show here. The lyrics are boring and kinda gross sometimes. The productions also nothing special.

Decided to check this out after seeing the XXL freshmen list for this year. I guess I'm just not feeling much trap music lately.

The best thing about this album is the consistency. Even though there are 20 songs spanning 95 minutes, every single one is very good. Blu’s lyricism and Exile’s production make for a great combo.

Standouts: The Feeling, To the Fall, But Not Forgotten, Spread Sunshine, The End

Phil Elverum is one of my favorite songwriters of all time, but even so, a 45-minute song is no easy task, and it was one I was a little nervous going into. Well, I am happy to say that this isn't only good, it's great. It serves as almost a mission statement of Phil's music.

Side note: This reminds me a lot of Mark Kozelek's recent work with very long songs and storytelling. It just so happens to be that Kozelek is another of my favorite songwriters.

The meaning behind the making of this album is a 100. I love how all these artists got together to make this compilation supporting a friend who is down on his luck.
Some of the artists on here you may be familiar with like Algiers, Xiu Xiu, or Floral Tattoo, but the majority I had never heard of before. Most of the songs on here range from decent to good with a few being great and one being very bad in my opinion. Check this out! There are definitely some gems in here.

Standouts: Fit for a ... read more

WAS THAT A WHITE TOWN SAMPLE IN LOVE AGAIN?!

I have been avoiding this for the sole reason that I just had more interesting things to listen to, and there would be no way this could live up to the hype. Well, I was sure proven wrong. This is a fucking FUN album! There are so many neat little things to pick out in every song. Ear worm choruses are all over this thing. It’s so well-produced. This album’s great!

Standouts: Cool, Physical, Levitating, Pretty Please, Love Again, Break ... read more

A really good metal album that combines some weird genres very well

Atomic Age is a standout

An endearing album from an artist I’ve been meaning to check out for quite some time. I’m definitely excited for whatever she does in the future.

Standouts: Chinese Satellite, Savior Complex, ICU

This album’s a Superstar Shit.

“I done took an L on every corner like a swastika” - Dominic Fike

I went into this with not that many expectations besides there being some cheap radio fodder. Nothing bad or anything, just boring. What I got was one of the worst albums I’ve heard in a very long time.
It was all going decent until the 3rd song, which I’m sure I don’t even need to name. Songs like these ruin the entire rest of the album.
This just feels so ... read more

I absolutely LOVE some good pop punk. PUP’s album last year was one of my favorites. I’m so glad I checked this out. It took a few songs to get into, but once track 5 kicked in, it was banger after banger after banger.

Favorites: State Line, f a m e, Leave It In The Sun, The Beauty Of Breathing, ***BNB, Monday At The Beach, Honeymoon Ashtray, Ohio Tpke

In all forms except physical, Im Wald.

Everyone’s out here talking about how destructive and brutal this album is, while honestly, it almost had the same effect as a great drone album. The no-fi instruments work perfectly here, blending all together until nothing stands out, yet if you listen closely enough, you can pick out some soaring riffs and awesome grooves. It may take a while to really get into the aesthetic, but when this hits, it HITS.

Favorites: All except Wurzel

First of all, look at that gorgeous album art! Okay, now that we've appreciated that, let's begin.
Atmospheric black metal is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres of music, despite only lately beginning to get into it. It blends the stank face elements of the heaviest of metals with the transcendent properties of shoegaze and cloud rap. This is, by far, the lengthiest album of the genre I've heard (at least until I end up hearing Im Wald), and it is a GOLIATH of an album.
Despite being ... read more

After making two of the worst albums I've ever heard last year, I was of course, skeptical about this new album. Considering this is apparently his last project though, I had high hopes that he would do this release justice. I am very happy to say Logic did not disappoint. The beats are way better than COADM, and Logic actually comes off as very likable on here. Sure maybe it's a little long, but there are only a couple cringey moments, and nothing at all even close to as disgusting as that ... read more

Honestly, this wouldn't be a bad starting point at all for people trying to get into spiritual jazz like myself. It started off great, but sadly, it began to lose me in the second half. Still overall a really good album!

Favorites: You've Been Called, Go My Heart, Go to Heaven, Behold, The Deceiver, Run The Darkness Will Pass

Nothing much to say about this, just another really solid album from the one of the best rappers making music today.

Favorites: 1985, God Is Perfect, Look At Me, Something to Rap About, Baby $Hit, Babies & Fools

Quite possibly the best cloud rap song of all time after Clams Casino/Lil B's "I'm God," Bladee's "Oxygen" gives me chills every time I hear it.

This album's great in the fact that you can choose to listen to it in a variety of ways. The unique percussive backbone making up many of the tracks as well as the instrumental palette provide a fun, passive listen. However, if you choose to concentrate on the lyrics, there is just so much to unpack. Believe the hype on this one. This is one of the best albums of the year!

Favorites: All of them!