Best of 2024

Recent Ratings

Alostmen - Kologo
Alostmen
Kologo
75
Jun 20, 2021
Samiam - Astray
Samiam
Astray
95
Mar 5, 2021
Boldy James & Sterling Toles - Manger On McNichols
Boldy James & Sterling Toles
Manger On McNichols
78
Feb 22, 2021
Ryley Walker & Kikagaku Moyo - Deep Fried Grandeur
Ryley Walker & Kikagaku Moyo
Deep Fried Grandeur
80
Feb 5, 2021
Justice - †
Justice
85
Nov 3, 2020
Saint Pepsi - Hit Vibes
Saint Pepsi
Hit Vibes
79
Oct 17, 2020

Recent Reviews

The Mountain Goats - Dark in Here
NR
Got my vinyl early and I gotta say this might be their best one since Beat the Champ. If you weren’t feeling the last couple, then this might be the one to get you back on board. Feels like the one they were really wanting to put out before a pandemic put it on hold. I’m a sucker for a song for David Berman too! Can’t wait to dig in some more.
Samiam - Astray
95
Just one of those albums where if you know you know. Should be revered as a classic. Second wave emo with tons of crossover appeal for alternative radio. Jason Beebout has the most powerful voice I’ve ever heard from someone who’s nasally.
Ryley Walker & Kikagaku Moyo - Deep Fried Grandeur
80
There is no way a project in which two artists who have never worked together should randomly collaborate at a festival and in only one afternoon of practice take the stage to perform such effortlessly flowing psychedelic improv for nearly forty minutes like this. You can hardly tell where one artists' input ends and the other begins. If I had been there when this was perfomed and didn't know better, I'd assume they had been together for years. Well done, gentlemen.
Millencolin - Pennybridge Pioneers
92
So I had a huge skate punk phase in my teens and seem to have redeveloped a bit of a soft spot for it. This is most likely my favorite album the genre produced during its peak. Real energetic and melodic stuff that more than makes up for any lyrical shortcomings you might find. A lot of the awkward phrasing is probably due to them not being native English speakers. I cannot recall a band from the scene putting out as many positive vibes as Millencolin were though. It’s a nice contrast to ... read more
The Veils - Total Depravity
87
Can’t believe it took me so long to listen to an El-P produced, Nick Cave inspired, David Lynch approved album. Couple of tracks he’s a dead ringer for Spencer Krug. Pretty into it now for sure.

Shoutbox

2w
Hello! We (Act Tragic) are back with our first single as a group since the release of our album In The Afterlife. Feeling Isolation is the name of the track and was written while I was traveling to visit my brother out in Colorado, far from my home state of Illinois. Sonically, we took a slightly brighter tone but I didn’t want to lose any emotion. I hope you enjoy this new track which will be on an EP later this year. Would love to hear your thoughts.

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/889782-act-tragic-feeling-isolation.php

https://open.spotify.com/track/207o2lTcS9ohvduryb6a4G?si=bEqVMcdGS56nJ5KIHW0hcw&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A6uc0R7cB9Ke2uiDuhD1FYs ..
2mo
hello dude! did a little stalking as I do...noticed you really enjoy choir boy's "passive with desire" (they also have a more pop-y sounding 2nd album i would also recommend) ! Well, there are certainly related artists that have next to nothing ratings but deserve them at the same time :0 Choir Boy's singer and bassist have a collaborative project 'Human Leather' (the most similar sounding) in the realms of synthpop...that singer has a slightly older project 'Bat Manors' in the realms of chamber/indie folk (a very different vocal sound, but beautiful and worth the listen!)...that bassist has an ongoing project 'Sculpture Club' (where he contributes vocals and guitar!) which is more in the realms of post-punk :) would recommend taking a listen when you have the time *not affiliated at all but also probably a lil obsessed haha
2y
hope all is well bro!
3y
What modern band/artist can you confidently say will leave a mark in the landscape of music as we know it? In 10-20 years time, we will reminisce over their addition to music and consider them a "LEGEND", as we do for Bowie, Jimi, Beatles, N.W.A., etc.
3y
Hello fellow man/woman/pronoun, what’s your favorite album to exercise to? I’m gonna put all the submissions into a list and listen to pick the most uplifting tracks and organize them into the AOTY Workout Playlist 2020.
3y
Hi there! I accidentally deleted my Fetch the Bolt Cutters review (instead of 'editing' it) and I'm quite pleased with it, would you mind giving it another look? I don't expect a like, just a read my friend!
3y
What album do you think would be the perfect anthem to THE END OF THE WORLD?
4y
if you had to choose a live performance of a song that's better than the original studio recording, what would it be? it can either be something youve experienced yourself or something from an official live album (cough cough its for a list)
4y
Thanks for the Destroyer recommendations! I’ll be sure to check out ASAP

Rating Distribution

90-99
 
188

80-89
 
311

70-79
 
263

60-69
 
143

50-59
 
95

40-49
 
43

30-39
 
12

20-29
 
5

10-19
 
4

0-9
 
6

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Recent Lists

So there is no better way to express what I'm about on this site than to show you what I personally drop the needle on at home. I will be updating this as I constantly find things I deem must-haves. ...
Updated 1w ago 12
Getting into vaporwave is forcing me start collecting tapes again, which I never thought would happen.
Updated 1w ago 1
Just trying to bring some attention to albums that get lost in the saturated music world. Won't try to throw entire discographies on here, like The Afghan Whigs for example, but definitely highlight ...
Updated 1y ago 6
Member since March 12, 2018

February Playlist