Hello, and welcome to the third edition of Album Katchup 2022! We are talking about some albums released from July through September. If you want to read the last edition covering April through June, click here. And of course, if you want to get a taste of each project, click the album titles to take yourself to one of their respective songs Otherwise, let's get started!
Imagine Dragons: Mercury - Act 2
Release Date: July 1
Genre: Pop Rock
Well, I'll give it this: Mercury - Act 2 isn't as bad as Act 1. Sure, it's not good, but the worst moments are, for the most part, not as terrible as the worst moments from the last one. Even still, Imagine Dragons has given us a compilation of bland, bloated tracks that get annoying very quickly. There are some nice sentiments here and there, but the music can be really difficult to stomach at points. Are there worse things to come from this year? Absolutely. Is this worth checking out? Absolutely not.
Grade: D
Best Tracks: Waves; Sirens
Worst Track: I'm Happy
Shinedown: Planet Zero
Release Date: July 1
Genre: Hard Rock
I will always have a soft spot for Shinedown. Though I don't listen to them much anymore, I was a huge fan in middle and high school. I don't listen to them much anymore partly because their material has lost its appeal to me. Also, the music they've been making as of late has been pretty weak. I had a difficult time getting into Threat to Survival and ATTENTION ATTENTION because of how sanitized and bland they were. Now we have Planet Zero, which is a concept album on cancel culture and modern society. There are things that I appreciate about this project over their past couple. For starters, this is easily the band's most experimental. There are instances when the band goes full on metal, and other moments when the band incorporates synths and the like. I appreciate the band willing to take risks, especially this late in their career. I also think this album's production is much better than their previous outings. Sure, it's very clean, but there's a level of heaviness that I quite like. Truthfully, the beefier moments are the spots that I like the most, as the band goes full throttle with the heaviness. What I don't like is just about everything else. There are some total duds here, especially the ballads. The lyrics are ham fisted and corny, adding nothing to the topics that they're singing about. And why are there so many interludes? They add nothing to the overall album. If anything, they make the flow of the project drag, even though the album is less than fifty minutes. Yeah, I dunno. On the one hand, this is their best work since Amaryllis, but on the other hand, I am not a fan of this at all. The singles are solid and the first track after the intro is a good piece of thrash metal, but otherwise, this album is simply not worth listening to unless you're a super Shinedown fan. Call it growing out of their music, but Planet Zero is simply not for me.
Grade: D+
Best Tracks: No Sleep Tonight; Planet Zero; The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo
Worst Track: What You Wanted
Viagra Boys: Cave World
Release Date: July 8
Genre: Dance Punk; Post-Punk
Cave World is an interesting album. I mean, it was made by a band named Viagra Boys, so that’s a given, but I mean it in a different way. This album is obnoxious. The performances are noisy, the lyrics are often stupid and the singer sounds like he’s drunk out of his mind on every song. Some of these hooks are annoying and there’s this feeling of stupidity that is laced throughout the album. With all of that said, Cave World is one of the most fun albums I’ve heard all year. The energy is fantastic. These guys are performing their hearts out, and there are some stellar riffs and grooves all throughout the album. Sure, the lyrics can be dumb, but there’s a strong sense of wit and humor that I can’t help but love. Tracks like “Punk Rock Loser,” “Creepy Crawlers” and “Ain’t No Thief” sell this the best, while also being great post punk tracks in their own rights. Even “Big Boy,” which is borderline unlistenable, is hilarious as it parodies the stereotypical macho man by likening them to a toddler. This album is funny, even while tackling serious topics like murder, conspiracy theories and vaccines. This project is a blast to listen to. It certainly won’t appeal to everybody, but give it a shot. For me, this is one of the most hilarious, catchy and fun albums of the year. I wouldn’t say it’s an absolute favorite of mine, and I don’t know how high it will chart for me come end of the year list season, but it’s a blast.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Baby Criminal; Troglodyte; Punk Rock Loser; Creepy Crawlers; Ain't No Thief; Return to Monke
Worst Track: Big Boy
Black Midi: Hellfire
Release Date: July 15
Genre: Avant-Prog / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock
Black Midi's previous album, Cavalcade, was one of my favorites from last year. It contained a brilliant mixture of chaos and beauty, all with stellar performances and great storytelling. Now we have Hellfire, continuing this trend. This time around, the band has made a concept album about terrible people doomed to hell. The narratives being told are twisted, dark and full of creativity. The stories are so dense with detail to the point that just describing generally what a single song is about doesn't do it justice. "Eat Men Eat," for example, has an entire story being told within its three minute runtime that could easily be extended into a full length novel. Seriously. I commend this band for going this route, as I found the storytelling on Cavalcade to be amazing. This feels like the next logical step for them. This is not even including the music, which is still amazing. The band members have this amazing chemistry with each other, as they are able to navigate such intricate note patterns to make each song feel like a journey. It perfectly melds the heavy chaos and the slower calms of Cavalcade, mixing passages of each mood into each song, and it all sounds immaculate. The guitars and bass are expertly played, and they draw me in like a moth to a flame each time. The drummer sounds like he came out the womb drumming. And the vocals are so odd, yet they fit the mood of each song so well. Yeah, in my eyes, Black Midi are three for three. They are one of the most creative, forward thinking bands right now, and Hellfire is a perfect example of that ambition. It's weird, crazy and so rewarding to listen to. I think I find myself preferring the songs of Cavalcade slightly more, as there are a few instances here where some of the songs drag slightly, but Hellfire is amazing and one of the best albums of the year. Do not miss out on it.
Grade: A
Best Tracks: Sugar/Tzu; Eat Men Eat; Welcome To Hell; Still; The Race Is About To Begin; The Defence; 27 Questions
Worst Track: Half Time
Lizzo: Special
Release Date: July 15
Genre: Contemporary R&B / Dance Pop
Lizzo has followed up her breakout hit Cuz I Love You with Special. She once again gives us a collection of uplifting bops mixing soul and modern pop, but this time around, there's a slightly wider array of influences. You get hits of disco, R&B, pop and even a little bit of folk on "If You Love Me." This time around, however, I don't think the songwriting is quite as strong. Many of these songs are written in the most corny way possible, especially when it comes to Lizzo trying to bring positivity to the listener. Don't get me wrong. Her messaging can be pretty admirable, and it does make me smile every once in a while, but the execution of the lyricism, especially with the flashy production, makes these songs sound tacky. Sometimes, these songs read like those terrible motivational posters you see on the walls of classrooms and homegood stores. Despite that, this album isn't bad. The production is decent, for as glossy and commercialized as it is, and Lizzo's voice is as impeccable as ever. Plus, there are some good bops here and there. "About Damn Time" is the best radio single of the year, "2 Be Loved" makes me dance with each listen, and "Break Up Twice" and "Coldplay" are two genuinely great ballads. Part of the reason is because they stray away from the forced self empowerment themes of many other tracks here. With the exception of "Grrrls," there wasn't a song that I outright hated. It's just that most of them are pretty underwhelming. Hardcore Lizzo fans will get something out of this, and those that are more in tune with modern pop radio will dig this as well. For everyone else, outside of a few tracks, there isn't much to return to, in my opinion.
Grade: C
Best Tracks: About Damn Time; 2 Be Loved (I Am Ready); Break Up Twice; Coldplay
Worst Track: Grrrls
Jack White: Entering Heaven Alive
Release Date: July 22
Genre: Singer-Songwriter / Folk Rock
Jack White has released his second album of 2022. With Entering Heaven Alive, he goes in a more acoustic, folksy direction. And this direction is fine. There are some cute acoustic jams here, and there is certainly some personality here, but I don't necessarily love the songwriting. It's not his most adventurous work, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as not everything he makes has to be as weird as Boarding House Reach or Fear of the Dawn. However, outside of a handful of tracks, the folk music that Jack has given us doesn't do a whole lot for me. It's pretty bland. It sounds nice and the guitar playing is great throughout, but it doesn't stick with me like some of the other singer-songwriter music from this year. It's decent and Jack White fans will certainly enjoy this because there is quite a lot of good here. I just don't love it. I will say this: I do like this version of "Taking Me Back" more than the original. Do with that information what you will.
Grade: C+
Best Tracks: A Tip from You to Me; All Along the Way; I've Got You Surrounded (With My Love); A Madman from Manhattan; Taking Me Back (Gently)
Worst Track: Queen of the Bees
Beach Bunny: Emotional Creature
Release Date: July 22
Genre: Power Pop / Indie Rock
This is a pretty decent indie rock album. There's not much on here that's particularly original or even all that memorable, but it's an enjoyable enough listen. The performances are solid and the writing is pretty good, too. Certainly worth a listen or two, especially if you like indie rock.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: Entropy; Oxygen; Fire Escape; Weeds; Gravity; Scream
Worst Track: Gone
DOMi & JD Beck: NOT TiGHT
Release Date: July 29
Genre: Jazz-Funk / Jazz Fusion / Breakbeat / Neo-Soul
I remember seeing videos of these two jamming out years ago. Ever since then, I've been wanting to hear them make an album. Luckily, we now have NOT TiGHT. And you know what? It's pretty great! This is a solid collection of jazz-funk jams, consisting of DOMi shredding it on the keys and JD Beck killing it on the drums. Their performances are so tight, no pun intended, and the two work very well together. Their chemistry is immaculate, and I found myself doing some strong stank face on these tracks. The guests are pretty well incorporated as well. Thundercat and Anderson .Paak in particular feel at home on this project, with the latter being on one of the best singles of the year thus far. As far as negatives go, there is a decent lull in the middle of the tracklist. There's a string of songs that I would consider to be the weakest on the album right at the center. Plus, I think there are times when the songs and the production feel a little underdeveloped. Being able to flesh out the ideas presented would be helpful to make some of these songs feel more complete. Despite that, NOT TiGHT is a blast, featuring some of the grooviest and tightest instrumentation of the year thus far. There is still a fair amount of growth to be had, and I cannot wait to see these two musical prodigies continue to make bigger and better songs, as I am sure they will have a fruitful career ahead of them. Do not miss out on this.
Grade: B+
Best Tracks: LOUNA'S iNTRO; WHATUP; SMiLE; NOT TiGHT; TAKE A CHANCE; SPACE MOUNTAiN; PiLOT; WHOA; SNiFF
Worst Track: U DON'T HAVE TO ROB ME
Beyoncé: RENAISSANCE Release Date: July 29
Genre: Dance Pop / House / Contemporary R&B
You ready for a cold take? Beyoncé just released what will most likely wind up being the best pop album of the year come December. I know, crazy right? But seriously, RENAISSANCE is amazing. It is a project brimming with confidence and flair, as Beyoncé sings on sex, love, self love and being the baddest bitch of all time. Sure, it may not be as deep or as poetic as the material off of Lemonade, but the themes give this album its own sexy identity that I can't help but admire. It's a lot of fun, and certain lines and vocal passages keep getting stuck in my head. The production is immaculate from start to finish, Beyoncé's voice is amazing and the whole thing works together to give us a fully cohesive experience. This is really an album first and foremost. Beyoncé is not worried about having a big hit or combining a bunch of singles to make a loose album. This is a tight project, and everything fits together. Sure, not every moment clicks with me, but aside from one or two instances, I have a hard time picturing what could be cut. Even my least favorite song on here has an incredible transition into the next song. So, yeah, this is a fantastic album. As of right now, it's my pop album of the year, and at this rate, I highly doubt that it will change.
Grade: A
Best Tracks: COZY; ALIEN SUPERSTAR; CUFF IT; BREAK MY SOUL; PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA; VIRGO'S GROOVE; THIQUE; ALL UP IN YOUR MIND; AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM; PURE/HONEY; SUMMER RENAISSANCE
Worst Track: ENERGY
BEST TRACKS OF JULY:
"TAKE A CHANCE (feat. Anderson .Paak)" by DOMi & JD BECK
"Free Yourself" by Jessie Ware
"TV" by Billie Eilish
WORST TRACK OF JULY:
"Doja" by Central Cee
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Danger Mouse & Black Thought: Cheat Codes
Release Date: August 12
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop / Abstract Hip Hop / Conscious Hip Hop
This right here is a really damn good rap album. Great verses, fantastic word play, excellent production, solid features, great flow... it all works so well. Just about every moment on here is electricity. Sure, not every moment clicks with me, but it's all consistently really good hip hop. It's classy yet raw, intelligent yet fearless, and it's all oh so good.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Cheat Codes; The Darkest Part; No Gold Teeth; Because; Belize; Aquamarine; Strangers; Saltwater
Worst Track: Close to Famous
Megan Thee Stallion: Traumazine
Release Date: August 12
Genre: Pop Rap / Southern Hip Hop / Trap
I've never really payed much mind to Megan Thee Stallion's music. She has pretty solid flows, but her style of hip hop has never really been my thing. But it's cool to see her blow up, as she definitely has talent. Traumazine seems like a pretty solid stepping stone for what will hopefully be a really good following album, because this is pretty decent. Sure, it falls under some modern pop rap trappings and some more sonic variety would have been nice, but the production is good and Megan's flows and lyricism are nice. It's certainly not an amazing album, as there are a handful of duds here. I think the label is holding her back, because there is the makings of a really solid album here. This thing just needed to be cut down and focused. I'm definitely interested to hear what she does next. It's not great, but it's worth a listen.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: NDA; Ungrateful; Not Nice; Her; Scary; Anxiety; Plan B; Southside Royalty Freestyle
Worst Track: Red Wine
The Mountain Goats: Bleed Out
Release Date: August 19
Genre: Indie Rock / Folk Rock
A little over a year since their last album, John Darnielle and company have made an album all about action movies, murder, revenge and more. It's cool hearing the band make an album centering around a specific theme again. The last time they've done something like this was the medieval fantasy themed In League with Dragons from 2019. The sound of this project matches the ideas as well, as this is the most rock oriented I've heard from this band. Granted, I haven't listened to every project from this band, but there's an energy brought about on Bleed Out that feels so peppy and youthful, especially since this band has been around since the early 90s. On top of that, there are some killer songs here. "Training Montage" is my favorite single the band has released since "Rain in SoHo" from Goths, "Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome" is a punk rock rager, "Bones Don't Rust" and "Guys on Every Corner" incorporate jazz better than a good majority of Dark in Here and the title track is an excellent slow burn of a closer. There are, however, a few duds in the mix. One problem that I have with The Mountain Goats is that their music doesn't feel as grand or as ambitious as the storytelling. As a result, some of their songs can result in sounding one-note or even dull. This album included. Some of these tracks feel tedious and not all that distinct. Songs like "Extraction Point" and "Hostages" come to mind. Plus, there are times when Darnielle's lyricism can be too vague and winding to get invested in them. Other than that, I think Bleed Out is a solid indie rock album. There are some strong standouts here and even if the entire experience isn't amazing, I enjoy listening to it quite a bit. Check it out if you want.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Training Montage; Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome; Bones Don't Rust; Guys on Every Corner; Bleed Out
Worst Track: Extraction Point
Muse: Will of the People
Release Date: August 26
Genre: Alternative Rock / Pop Rock / Alternative Metal
I'm about to say another very cold take: Muse are nowhere near as good as they were in the 2000s. I know. Shocker. With albums like Origin of Symmetry, Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations, Muse was a very good alternative rock band with great songs that I still go back to with fondness. However, ever since Resistance, they've been on a downward slope. The 2nd Law is a hot mess, Drones is garbage outside of two songs and Simulation Theory only worked when it was embracing 80s synth wave, which consisted of maybe two or three songs. They've slowly but surely turned into a parody of themselves, and Will of the People is another notch on that belt. Granted, like all of the other bad Muse albums, there are a couple of good tracks. "Kill Or Be Killed" is a solid alternative metal track, and "Verona" is a pretty decent ballad with a nice build. Everything else is just... why? The title track might be the worst thing the band has ever made, as its cock rock riff and chant of "Will of the people" sound so bad with the horrible production. "Compliance" and "Won't Stand Down" are two singles that never grew on me in any capacity, and "Liberation" and "Ghosts (How Can I Move On?)" are two unbearable ballads. And all of those are in the first half of the album. The second half is a little bit better, but not by much. "You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween" is a spooky scary bop that is so over the top, corny and goofy that it sounds like an entirely different band. "Euphoria" has a decent chorus, but the verses are truly terrible with how clunky they're written. And the closing track, "We are Fucking Fucked..." first off, what a title. Second off, the song starts off okay, as the riff is pretty cool, but as soon as it gets to the chorus, it becomes so cheesy. I understand that the band is not taking themselves seriously and just having fun, but the quality of music has gotten so poor, I can't help but ask myself what the point of this is. This truly might be Muse's worst album. Sure, it can be fun at points, but the songwriting is so bad that I can't bring myself to fully enjoy even the goofiest moments. If you're a hardcore Muse fan and like their new stuff, then you'll probably like this. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about listening to this.
Grade: D
Best Tracks: Kill Or Be Killed; Verona
Worst Track: Will of the People
JID: The Forever Story
Release Date: August 26
Genre: Southern Hip Hop / Jazz Rap / Trap / Conscious Hip Hop
Looks like Denzel Curry finally has some competition for rap album of the year. JID is one of those artists that I appreciate listening to when he's on, but never really seek out. It's not because he's bad or anything. It's simply more of me finding the urge to listen to him. Well, with The Forever Story, I realize that I have sorely been missing out. I've always known that JID is a skilled MC, but on this project, he has improved by leaps and bounds. His lyricism has grown more mature and thoughtful, and his flows are so impressive. He raps so good, it sounds effortless. On top of that, the production is fantastic. There is a great collection of raw instrumentals and beats, weaving together perfectly with some quality sample choices. The songs are all well written and have such amazing pace and flow, as the entire project fits seamlessly together without a song feeling out of place. The only song I don't really care for is "Money," but that's mainly because of its beat. Everything else about that song is good. That is how high quality this album is. On top of that, the hooks are catchy, the features are all brilliantly included and on "Kody Blu 31," JID shows off how good his singing voice is, which greatly took me by surprised. His singing voice is just as good as his rapping. I'm not even kidding. This is easily one of the best hip hop projects of the year and I implore you to check it out. Hopefully, this will shoot JID into stardom, because he very clearly deserves it.
Grade: A
Best Tracks: Raydar; Dance Now; Crack Sandwich; Can't Punk Me; Surround Sound; Kody Blu 31; Bruddanem; Sistanem; Just In Time; Better Days; Lauder Days
Worst Track: Money
Kenny Beats: Louie
Release Date: August 31
Genre: Instrumental Hip Hop
Legendary producer Kenny Beats has given us a collection of beats. And lo and behold, they're good beats. I wouldn't say that this is the most satisfying project of the year, nor the best thing Kenny has done, but it is nice. The production is great and creative, and the songs flow into each other nicely. Sure, they feel a little underdeveloped, but I enjoyed my time listening to this. It's a nice vibe.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Parenthesis; Family Tree; Still; Moire; Drop 10; The Perch; Really Really; Hot Hand
Worst Track: Get Around
BEST TRACKS OF AUGUST:
"Dance Now" by JID
"Picture in my mind" by PinkPantheress & Sam Gellaitry
"Phantom" by Rina Sawayama
WORST TRACK OF AUGUST:
"Florida Water" by FN Meka, Gunna & Clix
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Highly Suspect: The Midnight Demon Club
Release Date: September 9
Genre: Alternative Rock / Electropop / Hard Rock
Well, I will give The Midnight Demon Club this: it's better than MCID. Highly Suspect is a band that I appreciate a lot. Their raw yet polished garage band sound of their first two albums was pretty good, as they have made some damn great rock songs, like "My Name is Human," "Little One" and "Lydia." But then they released MCID, which was a truly terrible mix of rock and electronics, giving us one of the biggest fall-offs of any band I've ever seen in my lifetime. Now we have the follow up, The Midnight Demon Club, which is certainly an improvement. The production is generally better, and the combination of rock and pop influences mesh a lot more cohesively here. Unfortunately, this project suffers from a lot of the same trappings that the last one did. It's over-dramatic and sad to the point of stupidity at points, as there is some really corny lyricism here. The instrumentals can be solid, but a lot of times, they are bloated and lack a real sense of identity, as there are so many sounds that just sound jumbled together. Plus, there are some hardcore duds. The title track sounds like two different songs slapped together, causing the whole song to sound disjointed. The chant of "fuck the cool kids" on "Cool Kids" is ridiculously dumb and takes me out of the song every single time. And "Pink Lullaby" might be the worst attempt at going screamo from a non-screamo band that I've heard in a while. Those shrieks sound so bad, and them screaming "shut up, move" is as silly as it sounds. So yeah, this album ain't it. It is certainly a step up, but it's still pretty weak and nowhere near as good as their first two albums. There's a handful of songs worth listening to, but outside of those few, this isn't worth returning to.
Grade: C-
Best Tracks: The Sound; Caught On Fire; Evangeline
Worst Track: Pink Lullaby
Jockstrap: I Love You Jennifer B
Release Date: September 9
Genre: Glitch Pop / Art Pop / Experimental Pop
I've been looking forward to Jockstrap making an album for a while. Their EP Wicked City is great, and the singles leading up to this album have all been fire. Now we have the album I Love You Jennifer B, which might be the best debut of the year. Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye have crafted a collection of pop songs perfectly towing the line between bonkers and beautiful. The glitchy quality of the music makes for some of the most unique production I've heard all year. It's all so expressive and full of color. And when the album is not giving us some of the most mind-bending bops 2022 has to offer, it's offering some gorgeous as hell ballads. Every song is immaculately produced, and the songwriting and singing all adds to the otherworldly experience the project offers. Tracks like "Greatest Hits," "Debra" and "50/50" make me want to dance, whereas tracks like "Concrete Over Water," "Glasgow" and "Lancaster Court" make me want to cry simply due to how gorgeous they are. Really, my biggest criticism is that the project is a little all over the place. The weirdness and the serenity are all great, but it never comes together all that cohesively. To me, it sounds like the duo are throwing everything they can at the wall and seeing what sticks. Luckily, a majority of it does, but it can make the overall flow of the album to feel a little disjointed. Also, there are a couple of underwhelming songs on here, namely "Angst," which has some interesting lyrics, but it never really progresses into much. Still, this is a great pop album. It's one of the most unique outings I've heard all year, and I highly recommend it.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Neon; Greatest Hits; Concrete Over Water; Debra; Glasgow; Lancaster Court; 50/50 [Extended Mix]
Worst Track: Angst
Sudan Archives: Natural Brown Prom Queen
Release Date: September 9
Genre: Alternative R&B / Art Pop
With Natural Brown Prom Queen, Sudan Archives has given us a bold, creative and slightly uneven R&B record. There are some great songs on here, showing us some wild production, some great vocals and some very vulnerable songwriting on love and sex. It's all flashy and in your face, and a majority of the time, it works. I do think the album loses its way a bit in the middle portion, as some of the weakest songs appear here. Like with Jockstrap, it sounds like Sudan Archives is doing a little too much by throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. However, unlike Jockstrap, not everything does. As a result, this album can get kind of messy. But this is still a very solid album, showing a lot of promise for Sudan Archives to make a truly incredible record. It's a good stepping stone for what will hopefully be a fruitful career for her. Check it out.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Homemaker; NBPQ (Topless); Selfish Soul; Omg Britt; FLUE; Freakalizer; Yellow Brick Road; #513
Worst Track: Copycat (Broken Notions)
Rina Sawayama: Hold the Girl
Release Date: September 16
Genre: Pop Rock / Dance Pop / Adult Contemporary
Fun fact: Rina's last album, SAWAYAMA, was my favorite album of 2020. It was an excellent fusion of synthpop, alternative rock and metal, combining great songwriting, insane production and Rina's stellar vocals. 2 years later, and it still kick ass. Because of that, Hold the Girl was easily one of my most anticipated albums of the year. I couldn't wait to see what she would do next. However, what she followed up her bold and boundary pushing debut with is a whole lot safer. Don't get me wrong. It's good. There are some really strong tracks here, showing us that Rina still knows her away around a chorus. There is some cool production and Rina's vocals are as gorgeous as ever. The thing is that the overall sound of this project is a lot more commercially viable to the point of missing a lot of edge. As a result, there are some songs on here that feel gutless and even vapid. Tracks like "Catch Me In The Air" and "Forgiveness" don't do a whole lot for me for that very reason. On top of that, there are instances where the mixing is just off. Take "Hurricanes," for example. That song has a pretty solid chorus, but the way the instrumentals and especially the drums are mixed, it completely swallows Rina's voice to the point where she's actively fighting the music. It's a shame. Overall, I do like this album. It's a solid follow up, and it is further proof that Rina has some serious talent. I just wish that the overall project was more dynamic and gripping, because it often feels like her sound is getting neutered. Still, it's worth a listen because the good songs are really good. Just start with her previous projects before getting into this one.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Hold The Girl; This Hell; Holy (Til You Let Me Go); Your Age; Imagining; Frankenstein; Phantom
Worst Track: Hurricanes
The Beths: Expert in a Dying Field
Release Date: September 16
Genre: Indie Rock / Power Pop / Jangle Pop / Pop Punk
I genuinely believe that Expert in a Dying Field will wind up being the best indie rock album of the year come December. It is an infectiously catchy record with great performances, solid songwriting and a singer with one of the most charming Australian accents I've ever heard from a vocalist. This project is a lot of fun to listen to, and I love how much energy the band has with each song. They sound so in sync with each other at every moment. I do think the first half of the album is stronger than the second, but the album never gets bad or even mediocre. The worst track here is fine. This is a quality indie rock album, and you should not miss it. I've wanted to get into The Beths for a while now, as I remember hearing a song of theirs that was recommended by one of my cousins years ago. I'm not sure what song it was, but it caught my attention. Now that I've finally heard a full project from them, I am thoroughly impressed. Really, the worst thing about this album is that it doesn't include "A Real Thing," which was a killer single. Anyways, give this a listen. It's great.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Expert In A Dying Field; Knees Deep; Silence is Golden; Your Side; Head in the Clouds; Best Left; Change in the Weather; 2Am
Worst Track: A Passing Rain
Weezer: SZNZ: Autumn
Release Date: September 22
Genre: Power Pop / Alternative Rock
Weezer has released their third entry in their SZNZ series, chronicling the four seasons through music. Spring was insanely corny and mediocre, whereas Summer was actually pretty fun. Now with Autumn, we have a project that's somewhere in the middle. The worst moments aren't as bad as those in Spring, though it doesn't explode in the ways that grab me like Summer does. I do like the decidedly more serious tone of this project, as Rivers often talks about depression, even though it can come off a little bit immature at points, as per Weezer. I guess my biggest nitpick about the project as a whole is that it is the most sonically separated from its given season. Sure, Spring was a mixed bag, but it sounded like Spring. This sounds like a typical Weezer project. It's not a terrible Weezer project, but it's a Weezer project nonetheless. In fact, that's my general thoughts on this project. It's a Weezer album. Not amazing, not horrible, but for the most part, not much to write home about.
Grade: C
Best Tracks: Francesca; Tastes Like Pain; Run, Raven, Run
Worst Track: What Happens After You?
Slipknot: The End, So Far
Release Date: September 30
Genre: Alternative Metal / Nu Metal
Eh. This is really not my style of music, and this project is certainly not winning me over, but I do appreciate it for what it is. It's heavy, crushing and big sounding, full of distorted guitars and pummeling drums. Corey Taylor's singing has certainly sounded better, but his screams and growls are pretty solid. I do respect the band still sounding so heavy, but this is not something that I want to come back to. It's fine and Slipknot fans will certainly enjoy it, but it's not for me.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: The Dying Song (Time to Sing); The Chapeltown Rag; Yen; Medicine for the Dead
Worst Track: Heirloom
Bjork: Fossora
Release Date: September 30
Genre: Eletronic / Art Pop / Post-Industrial
I have been getting into Bjork a lot this year. I haven't listened to everything from her, but what I have heard, I've been enchanted by. The way she tackles art pop is so mesmerizing and beautiful. Now, we have been provided with her 10th album: Fossora. This album is hard to talk about because of how complex it is. Every single song here is so dense with orchestration, and the song topics, while simple as they tackle themes of love, death, motherhood, aging and mushrooms, are full of metaphors and poetry. It is also a weird album, as the music often has these clashing notes playing over each other. The chords often sound distressed and tense, and the use of percussion adds for a pummeling effect that you don't really hear that often. This project is a lot to take in, and it can be very off-putting. With all of that said, I freaking ADORE this album. This is one of the most gorgeous, weird, mind blowing and downright insane albums I've heard all year. The production is incredible, the songs are captivating and Bjork's voice is as amazing as ever. This woman is almost 60 and she's still killing it. I also love how each song fits together so well. This project is close to an hour, yet it is so tight with its pacing and album structure. Plus, some of these songs flow into each other so well. If you were to tell me that "Mycelia" and "Sorrowful Soil" were the same song, I would believe you. Really, the only song that I don't care for is the second single "Ovule," but it's mainly because it is the only song that meanders in its pacing. The rest of this project is full of bangers. I still need to listen to the rest of her discography, but I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorites from her. Anyways, listen to Fossora. It's one of the best albums of the year. Expect it very high up on my favorite albums of 2022 list.
Grade: A
Best Tracks: Atopos; Sorrowful Soil; Ancestress; Victimhood; Allow; Fungal City; Trolla-Gabba; Freefall; Fossora; Her Mother's House
Worst Track: Ovule
BEST TRACKS OF SEPTEMBER:
"It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody" by Weyes Blood
"Born Yesterday" by Quadeca
"Atopos" / "Ancestress" / "Fossora" by Bjork (I couldn't pick just one from her. This woman released four singles in September before her album at the end of the month, and these three are among my favorites of the year. I can't decide a favorite between these three yet. Wait until my top singles of 2022 list and I'll decide then.)
WORST TRACK OF SEPTEMBER:
"San Quentin" by Nickelback
Stay tuned for the final Album Katchup of the year, covering October, November, December and some albums I missed from earlier in the year.
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