The second edition of Album Katchup 2022 is here! This is covering 30 albums, all of which were released between April and June. If you want to get a taste of each album, be sure to click on the album titles. Also, if you want to read the last part, covering January-March, click here. With that said, let's get started.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Unlimited Love
Release Date: April 1
Genre: Alternative Rock / Funk Rock / Pop Rock
I was originally planning on doing a full review for this album, as Red Hot Chili Peppers is a classic band. However, upon listening to this, I realize that there isn't a whole lot I have to say. It's a Red Hot Chili Peppers album. It's got some solid jams, some good instrumentation (the reintroduction of guitarist John Fruiscante is nice, by the way), some hit or miss vocals from Anthony Kiedis and some weird, nonsensical lyrics. The good songs are really good, but this album is bloated with filler, and the mixture of funk and dad rock loses its charm after a while. Shorten this to ten tracks, and it would be pretty great. As is, it's fine. It's certainly not bad, and it's cool to see these guys still making music. Fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers will certainly get a lot out of this, though if you don't like them, this will certainly not sway your opinions. As for me, a man who likes the Red Hot Chili Peppers more so as singles artists than albums artists, I enjoyed myself while listening to it, but I can't picture myself coming back to this often outside of a few tracks.
Grade: C+
Best Tracks: Black Summer; Aquatic Mouth Dance; It's Only Natural; She's a Lover; White Braids & Pillow Chair; The Heavy Wing; Tangelo
Worst Track: One Way Traffic
Release Date: April 1
Genre: Pop Punk / Indie Rock
I'm not a fan of pop punk by any means. It's not a genre that I find much enjoyment out of, which makes the fact that I love their last album, Morbid Stuff, quite a statement. That album is full of fiery, aggressive tracks with great instrumentation, powerful performances and some of the most effectively angry and angsty lyricism I've heard in a while. With their follow up, THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND, PUP continues their raucous pop punk sound, giving us more of their own quirky takes on themes of mental health, anger, capitalism and self analysis. This time around, however, the impact of everything is not as strong. Don't get me wrong: the performances are still fantastic. All of the band members have such amazing chemistry with each other, and they all play their instruments with such energy and ferocity. The vocals, while admittedly whiny, are full of passion and personality. Really, the big thing that's preventing me from loving this project is the production. Everything sounds muddy and way too compressed on this album. There are instances where I feel like I'm listening to these songs through a funnel. The drums and vocals are swallowed by the guitar and bass, the cymbal hits are clipping with each hit and the vocal processing makes the singing way too hot on the mic. It's a shame because the mixing on Morbid Stuff was so good. It was clean but raw. This is just messy. With better production, this album could have been great. Maybe still not as good as Morbid Stuff, but certainly a really fun listen. As is, it's good, but slightly underwhelming. But hey, the good songs are still really good even with the shoddy production, and the performances are still excellent. Pop punk fans should absolutely take notice. Just don't expect the cleanest listening experience.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: Totally Fine; Waiting; Cutting Off The Corners; PUPTHEBAND Inc. Is Filing For Bankruptcy
Worst Track: Grim Reaping
Christian Lee Hutson: Quitters
Release Date: April 1
Genre: Folk / Singer-Songwriter
"Strawberry Lemonade" was one of my favorite singles of last year. Based on that, as well as the fact he's a frequent collaborator with fellow indie folk artist Phoebe Bridgers, I wanted to check out this album. With Quitters, Christian Lee Hutson has released some of the most harrowing folk music of the year. He talks about depression, loneliness, OCD, abuse, heartbreak, suicide, aging and much more through poetic writing and sad, somber guitar playing. It makes for some of the most supremely sad songs of the year. That being said, there is an air of wit here that I appreciate. It's the kind of humor that sounds so cynical and sarcastic, but it works quite well. I also found myself really loving the music. Yes, it's indie folk, but it's beautiful indie folk. The acoustic guitar sounds fantastic, and the use of other instruments make some of these moments hit hard. Whether it be the swell of horns on "Age Difference," the string synths on "Endangered Species" or the drum machine of "Creature Feature," Christian gives us a heartfelt, despondent look into his mind that is equal parts heartbreaking and gorgeous. There are a few songs that come off drab, where the performances get to the point of tedium. Plus, the guitar solo on "Blank Check" is genuinely terrible. It's sloppily performed, many of the notes hit are off key and it goes on for way too long. It's a shame, because it has one of the best choruses on the album, but that solo ruins the track. Even still, I love Quitters. It will go down as one of the most underrated albums of the year. It's not going to be for everybody, but if you like your indie folk with a strong dose of millennial doom, then this is absolutely for you.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Strawberry Lemonade; Endangered Birds; Rubberneckers; Age Difference; State Bird; Creature Feature; Ocdemon; Triple Axel
Worst Track: Cherry
Wet Leg: Wet Leg
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Indie Rock / Post-Punk
Wet Leg's self titled debut was one of my most anticipated albums of the year. "Chaise Longue" is such a fun, infectiously catchy and hilarious track, and it showed a lot of promise for this band. As the singles kept getting released, I only got more excited. Now, we have the full project, and it certainly shows a lot of promise. This band has some really catchy and fun songwriting. Their sound is punchy and full of energy, and the quirky takes on angst, social anxiety, overt dependence on technology and masturbation are as endearing as they are funny. This band gives us a sound that is distinctly them, even if you can tell they are heavily leaning on the laurels of their influences. Now, upon listening to this album, I have realized and accepted that, for the most part, the best tracks are the singles. The deep cuts, more often than not, don't really do a whole lot for me. The non-singles lack the bite that makes tracks like "Angelica," "Wet Dream" and, of course, "Chaise Longue" so great. Sure, they're fine songs, but other than "Supermarket," they don't really stand out. In fact, I think one aspect that would have greatly improved this project is making the production a little rougher. I know, it's a weird criticism to make, but the entire album sounds a little bit too clean, especially for the style of indie rock they're going for. I feel like making the instrumentation a little more noisy and distorted would really drive home some much needed fun aggression. But hey, that's just my opinion. All in all, it's still a really fun album and a solid debut for a hopefully fruitful career. There is certainly some fleshing out that needs to be done in some areas, but this is a very promising start. Check it out.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Chaise Longue; Angelica; Wet Dream; Ur Mum; Supermarket; Too Late Now
Worst Track: Convincing
Father John Misty: Chloë and the Next 20th Century
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Singer-Songwriter / Chamber Pop / Baroque Pop / Traditional Pop
Father John Misty has returned with somewhat of a stylistic change of pace. This project still contains his stylings of chamber pop and singer-songwriter music, but it also has heavy doses of big band, vocal jazz, traditional pop, bossa nova and country. It's a nostalgic sound that Mr. Tillman is going for, and it backs up a concept album of star crossed lovers in the midst of old Hollywood, along with John's typical brand of satire and social commentary. It's a noble and admirable swing towards this sound, but a good chunk of the music simply doesn't end up gripping me. The orchestration is pretty and John's lyricism is sharp, but most of the songs end up sounding nondescript, tedious and boring. It's a shame, especially since this old time big band aesthetic is one that I quite enjoy. Unfortunately, the songwriting simply does not do anything for me. There are some standouts, like the soft and intimate ode to the protagonist's dead cat on "Goodbye Mr. Blue," as well as "Funny Girl," which is still one of the best singles of the year, but then others get old very quickly, like "Q4," which has some of the clunkiest pacing on the entire project. Plus, there are some baffling production choices here and there. I don't know what that vocal effect is on "Kiss Me (I Loved You)," but it ruins the song. Yeah, I think Chloë and the Next 20th Century is my least favorite album from Father John Misty. There are some great moments and some pretty instrumentation, but the songs themselves are generally not as captivating as his previous work. If you're a fan of the old big band/show tune sound, then this might interest you. Otherwise, I'd rather check out his other albums.
Grade: C
Best Tracks: Chloë; Goodbye Mr. Blue; Funny Girl; The Next 20th Century
Worst Track: Kiss Me (I Loved You)
Vince Staples: Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Release Date: April 8
Genre: West Coast Hip Hop
Vince Staples latest project, Ramona Park Broke My Heart, has come out a little under a year after his last album. The self titled album had some cool vibes, but the overall project left me underwhelmed. With Ramona Park Broke My Heart, there are a lot of the same trappings that the last album fell under. The difference is that I prefer this one a whole lot more. Vince has given us a collection of songs that work as summer bops and jams about sex, money, gang violence and nihilistic depression. This album is about how Vince uses these vices to numb his emotions. It's gripping subject matter, and Vince's lyricism is quite strong. Plus, it all contrasts perfectly with the moody yet bouncy production. There is a solid collection of understated bops and bangers on here. Nothing here is as adventurous as the music on some of his past projects, like Big Fish Theory, but they scratch an itch that I like. The album does lose steam near the end, and on a few of the songs, Vince's reserved and laid back flow can cause him to sound like he's asleep at the wheel, but I still really liked a majority of what's going on here. If you want a good rap album that you can vibe to, then this is perfect. But if you don't feel like listening to the full project, then at the very least, listen to "WHEN SPARKS FLY." It is by far the best song on the album, as well as one of Vince's best songs period. If you only listen to one track off of Ramona Park Broke My Heart, make it that one. Anyways, great stuff. Check it out.
Grade: B+
Best Tracks: AYE! (FREE THE HOMIES); DJ QUIK; MAGIC; WHEN SPARKS FLY; PAPERCUTS; LEMONADE; ROSE STREET; THE BLUES
Worst Track: MAMA'S BOY
Daniel Rossen: You Belong There
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Progressive Folk / Chamber Folk
I am not familiar with the band Grizzly Bear, of which Daniel Rossen is the singer, but I still wanted to listen to this considering how good the singles were. Plus, stylistically, this is right up my alley. I'm a sucker for good folk music, as well as good prog, so combining them is a match made in heaven. And you know what? The album's good! You Belong There is full of winding passages of complex acoustic guitar and chaotic drums, giving us this eerie yet mystical feel. The guitar work is some of the best I've heard all year, and the production sounds fantastic. Rossen's singing may not be amazing, but it adds to this enchanting air that this project holds. Plus, the writing manages to be thought provoking throughout. Not every moment is fully captivating, though, as there are a few tracks that don't leave much of an impression, sounding rather empty as a result. Also, I feel like there's a missed opportunity with the orchestra. There's uses of strings and horns, but they never have much presence and often get buried in the mix. Bringing those instruments forward and making them more prominent would have enhanced many of these songs. Despite that, this is a great debut. If you like the acoustic guitar, as well as being taken on a journey through music, then I absolutely recommend this. It's not something that I see myself returning to often, but I'm definitely glad I've heard it. Check it out.
Grade: B+
Best Tracks: Shadow in the Frame; Unpeopled Space; Tangle; I'll Wait For Your Visit; Keeper and Kin; The Last One
Worst Track: Celia
Camila Cabello: Familia
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Latin Pop
BREAKING NEWS! This just in: this new Camila Cabello album exists. It has songs, those songs have titles, and they are compiled to make this album, called Familia. More at 11. Jokes aside, this album is inoffensive, but pretty bland and boring. I barely remember anything after I listen to it. There's a couple of good songs and the horn work is pretty great, but outside of that, I just don't care.
Grade: C-
Best Tracks: La Buena Vida; Lola
Worst Track: No Doubt
Yung Lean: Stardust
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Cloud Rap
Before Stardust, I hadn't listened to a single Yung Lean project, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Here's what I will say: this might be the funniest thing I've listened to all year. And no, I don't think that was his intention. It all has to do with Yung Lean's vocals. He has these moans that he does on all of these songs that sound so off key, and when those vocal tracks are layered on top of each other, it becomes comically bad. And when he's not moaning like an idiot, he sounds incredibly boring. He's got a wicked case of marble mouth. It's a shame, because the production is pretty decent across the board. There aren't any beats that grab my attention, but there's a sleepy aesthetic here that would have been cool under the helm of a different rapper. "Bliss" is the only song that I would consider good, if not mostly for the FKA Twigs feature. Everything else is pretty embarrassing. It might be that I'm unfamiliar with this genre, but I honestly don't think that's the case. This is just bad.
Grade: D-
Best Tracks: Bliss
Worst Track: Starz2therainbow
Lizzy McAlpine: Five Seconds Flat
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Indie Pop / Indie Rock / Singer-Songwriter
Attention all that are reading this: please listen to this album. Five Seconds Flat is a fantastic project and shows so much promise for Lizzy as a true powerhouse of an artist. This project is a concept album of sorts, as it deals with the aftermath of a breakup. Sure, breakup albums are nothing new, but the writing here is so strong. There's something about the way she tells these stories of heartache that make the sorrow of the situation really palpable. It makes me feel like she broke up with me, and I've never even met her before. Songs like "doomsday," "reckless driver" and "ceilings" are so beautifully heartbroken yet brilliantly clever. Plus, the production and instrumentation is consistently great. The use of piano and acoustic guitar in particular emphasize Lizzy's singing and give an intense grace to each song. There is a strong collection of bops and ballads here, and I can't recommend them enough. As for critiques, there are a few instances where Lizzy channels a sort of musical theatre quality to her songwriting. That's not inherently a bad thing, as I do enjoy musicals quite a bit, but those instances can get a little corny. Spots on here give me some Dear Evan Hansen vibes, and not entirely in the best way. Also, on the song "weird," the use of percussion is completely off-putting. It has a strong echoing reverb with each hit that completely swallows the mix. I know that this song is intentionally supposed to be slightly off-kilter (the song is titled "weird," after all), but this mixing choice is not the most flattering thing. Despite that, I adore Five Seconds Flat. It elicits an emotion that few albums this year have given me, and I cannot get enough of it. Do yourselves a favor and check this project out, because it will most certainly go down as one of the most underrated and overlooked of the year.
Grade: A
Best Tracks: doomsday; an ego thing; erase me; all my ghosts; reckless driver; ceilings; what a shame; hate to be lame; chemtrails; orange show speedway
Worst Track: weird
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Omnium Gatherum
Release Date: April 22
Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Neo-Psychedelia / Psychedelic Pop
Omnium Gatherum is the twentieth album from legendary psych and experimental rock band, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. It's impressive that this band has come so far, especially since their debut came out ten years ago. Now, this project is a monster. With sixteen tracks, clocking in at 80 minutes, this is the band's biggest project to date. This is also their most sonically varied. I haven't listened to every single King Gizzard album yet (I've listened to more than half, though), but this project is similar to projects like Oddments and Gumboot Soup. It's a project where each song switches genres, showcasing the variety of sounds and styles the band has experimented with thus far. And trust me, this things is VARIED. This project has songs in the styles of psych rock, synth pop, jazz, thrash metal, funk, R&B, rap (yes, rap) and more. It's impressive how much ground this band covers in 80 minutes. It's also impressive how good most of these songs are. Omnium Gatherum features the band's best production yet, as their songwriting manages to stay fun and captivating throughout the run of the album. You get ragers like "The Dripping Tap;" an 18 minute psych rock oddysey, standing as one of their best songs ever, and then you get gorgeous ballads like the dreamy and psychedelic "Magenta Mountain," the jazzy "Kepler 22-B" and the groovy "Presumptuous." Then you get bangers like "Sadie Sorceress," which straight up sounds like a Beastie Boys song. There are some fantastic moments on this record. Unfortunately, the second half is nowhere near as strong as the first. Sure, there are some great songs, but the weaker outings land here. There are forgettable cuts like "Red Smoke" and "Candles," as well as cuts that are quite grating like "Garden Goblin" and "Blame It On The Weather." Even still, Omnium Gatherum is a damn solid album. It's not as consistent as some of their other albums, but the variety, the creativity, the instrumentation and the production manage to be engaging for 80 minutes. This gives me promise that King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard will continue to experiment, which is exciting to hear. Either way, congrats to King Gizzard on 20 albums. Here's to 20 more!
Grade: B
Best Tracks: The Dripping Tap; Magenta Mountain; Kepler 22-B; Gaia; Ambergris; Sadie Sorceress; Evilest Man; Persistence; The Grim Reaper; Presumptuous
Worst Track: Blame It On The Weather
Pusha T: It's Almost Dry
Release Date: April 22
Genre: Hardcore Hip Hop / Gangsta Rap / Southern Hip Hop
Pusha T is one of those artists that I want to dive into more, but haven't quite found the time because what I've heard from him, I've liked. This album included. It's Almost Dry is a great album featuring fantastic production from Kanye West and Pharrell Williams and some fantastic writing and rapping. Pusha T's delivery is always fantastic and cold blooded, and I appreciate that through all of the bars about cocaine, he is not afraid to be funny and vulnerable. The beats used are, for the most part, fantastic. You get sample heavy tracks with Kanye and the more synthesized tracks with Pharrell, resulting in a project that can come across a little disjointed as the songs switch between producers, but otherwise very consistently enjoyable. The biggest problem with the album, though, is that it is definitely frontloaded. The best songs are in the first half of the album, and while the second half does have some amazing songs, there are some that do pale in comparison. None of the songs are bad, but the second half is not as strong as the first. Despite that, I loved It's Almost Dry. This has some of the best bangers of the year, and if you haven't listened to it yet, then you are really missing out.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Brambleton; Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes; Dreamin of the Past; Neck & Wrist; Just So You Remember; Diet Coke; Hear Me Clearly; I Pray For You
Worst Track: Call My Bluff
Future: I NEVER LIKED YOU
Release Date: April 29
Genre: Trap / Southern Hip Hop
I've never liked Future. No pun intended. Sure, his style is very influential, but I've never found him to be all that interesting. I went into this album hoping to understand what the appeal is for Future. Did I find it? I mean, I guess I did. I NEVER LIKED YOU is a collection of moody bangers about sex, money, drugs, luxury and heartbreak. That's all fine and dandy, but Future's lyricism and flows are too one-note to latch onto anything. He uses very similar rhythms and cadences with each song, and it gets old pretty quickly. Same with the production. Most of these beats sound indistinguishable from each other, and they don't sound as luxurious as what he's rapping about. Plus, there are just some questionable moments and lyrics. "FOR A NUT" and "MASSAGING ME" are about as embarrassing as the titles let on. And we can't forget about the greatest line of the year off of "I'M DAT N****": "fucked her in her ass, made her peepee." Yes, those words were written and then put into a song. Despite that, there were some highlights. I found myself gravitating towards the moodier cuts like "PUFFIN ON ZOOTIES" and "LOVE YOU BETTER." There are some nice melodies there, and it's cool hearing Future get a little more introspective than normal. There are also a few solid beats. "CHICKENS" probably has my favorite production on the entire album, as it has grown on me with each listen. Overall, I NEVER LIKED YOU was indeed a Future album. it's not good, but it certainly could have been worse. If anything, this is some decent background music if you're doing something else. Is it as bad as I thought? No. Will I ever return to this? Never.
Grade: C-
Best Tracks: KEEP IT BURNIN; PUFFIN ON ZOOTIES; LOVE YOU BETTER; CHICKENS; HOLY GHOST
Worst Track: MASSAGING ME
BEST SINGLES OF APRIL:
"About Damn Time" by Lizzo
"Sidelines" by Phoebe Bridgers
"Free in the Knowledge" by The Smile
WORST SINGLE OF APRIL:
"That's Hilarious" by Charlie Puth
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Jack Harlow: Come Home the Kids Miss You
Release Date: May 6
Genre: Pop Rap / Trap
This is my reaction to this album as a whole:
Absolutely boring. The beats lack energy. Jack gives us the same flow on every single song. His one liners are cringe. The features are mediocre at best. Why does this thing have so many producers and writers for something this low effort? Skip.
Grade: F
Best Tracks: Nail Tech
Worst Track: Movie Star
Arcade Fire: WE
Release Date: May 6
Genre: Art Rock / Indie Rock
With WE, Arcade Fire create an album that acts as a commentary on their woes of today's society, while also trying to bring about a sense of unity. It's a noble sentiment, but the final result of the project leaves little impact for me. The album is structured weird, as songs have sequels to each other without much of a connection to each other, lyrically or sonically. The only real exception is "The Lightning I" and "The Lightning II," which are easily the best moments of the album. They fit together quite well, and they are the only moments that have a sense of urgency. The rest of the album is pretty boring, especially the first half. Most of the songs in the first half are tediously slow. And some of the worst writing I've heard all year lands on "End of the Empire IV (Sagittarius A*)." I never thought I would hear someone earnestly sing "I unsubscribed," but hey, here we are. It's the most out of touch lyricism I've heard in a while. Luckily, the second half is better, as there are some decent bops, but again, the "Lightning" duology is the only moment that I really enjoy. As a whole... eh. It's okay, I guess. Nothing outright terrible, other than "End of the Empire IV," but outside of a couple tracks, there's nothing to return to.
Grade: C
Best Tracks: The Lightning I; The Lightning II
Worst Track: End of the Empire IV (Sagittarius A*)
IDK: Simple.
Release Date: May 6
Genre: Jazz Rap / Hip Hop / Hip House
As the album title suggests, this new IDK project is simple. Simple. is a short and sweet album containing a mixture of rap, jazz and house music. The production is the biggest star of the show. Kaytranada is in charge of the production, and it all sounds immaculate. The jazzy instrumentals all mesh so well together, and they sound beautiful. IDK sounds great over this style as well. He rides the beats well, and his singing isn't too bad either. This is an overall solid project. It's not long enough to leave a huge lasting impression and some of the more house leaning cuts are a little bland, but I enjoyed this one. If you want an easy, quick listen, then give this a shot. It's decent.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: Dog Food; Taco
Worst Track: Zaza Tree
The Black Keys: Dropout Boogie
Release Date: May 13
Genre: Blues Rock
I've never been much of a Black Keys fan, and this project certainly isn't winning me over, but if you want some blues rock with influences of funk, soul and classic rock, then give this a shot. It's certainly not amazing, as there's a blandness that permeates the tracklist in my eyes, but it's enjoyable enough while it's on. Plus, there are some fun guitar licks and solos here and there. Certainly not terrible, especially for classic rock fans.
Grade: C
Best Tracks: Wild Child; It Ain't Over; Good Love
Worst Track: Your Team is Looking Good
Florence + The Machine: Dance Fever
Release Date: May 13
Genre: Alternative Rock / Pop Rock
If you ask me, Florence + The Machine's last album, High as Hope, was one of the most underrated albums of 2018. The songs had wonderful production and instrumentation, stunning vocals as always and some of Florence Welsh's most personal lyrics ever. With Dance Fever, the band continues that trend, though with slightly more inconsistent results. Many of the songs here are quite bouncy, offering some nice production. This is their lavish take on dance music, as you can tell by the album title, and it generally works quite well. Songs like "King" and "Daffodil" have this nice dark quality that makes the melodies shine, whereas tracks like "Free" and "My Love" are so bright and full of life that I can't help but bob my head to them. The slower cuts, in my eyes, are where the album begins to falter. Some of these ballads are so tedious and boring, particularly "Back in Town," which straight up sounds like it starts with forty seconds of silence. Considering that follows "Choreomania," that is so jarring. Plus, the shorter tracks don't really add anything to the album. Sure, they reaffirm some of the themes, but other than that, they seem out of place. Even still, I think Dance Fever is pretty solid. It's not the best project Florence + The Machine have under their belt, but it's another example as to why they're so consistently good. Check it out.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: King; Free; Choreomania; Dream Girl Evil; Daffodil; My Love; The Bomb; Morning Elvis
Worst Track: Back in Town
The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention
Release Date: May 13
Genre: Art Rock
Believe it or not, A Light for Attracting Attention was one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Radiohead is one of my all time favorite bands, and the fact that The Smile consists of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, as well as Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, I was excited. Plus, the singles for this project were all great. As for the album itself, it's also great. The production is fantastic, as the instrumentation switches between serenely beautiful and oddly energetic and chaotic. There are some lovely ballads here, as well as some instances where the band goes into a more post-punk aesthetic, which is cool to hear. Like Radiohead, the band does a great job with pacing and allowing their soundscapes to morph and develop as the songs progress. Really, the biggest problem with this Radiohead side project is that they don't do a whole lot to deviate their sound from Radiohead. As great as most of these songs are, they do sound like they could be B-sides to In Rainbows or A Moon Shaped Pool, or even The Bends. There are also a few songs that get annoying pretty quickly, namely the album opener, which drones in such a way that gets on my nerves. Even still, I really enjoyed this project from The Smile. Even if it is Radiohead copying themselves, it still sounds great, and it makes me wonder where else they can take this project. I'm still waiting patiently for the next Radiohead album, but this is a nice pick-me-up to tide us over with.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: The Opposite; You Will Never Work in Television Again; Pana-Vision; The Smoke; Thin Thing; Free in the Knowledge; We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings; Skrting On the Surface
Worst Track: The Same
Flume: Palaces
Release Date: May 20
Genre: Future Bass / Glitch Hop / Wonky
This might be coming from someone who's not familiar with Flume's work, as this project is getting pretty mixed reviews, but I quite enjoyed Palaces. I found the production to be full of color and life, with just enough weirdness to make things interesting. The guests, for the most part, fit the songs well, and there are plenty of atmospheric bops to be had. Now, after listening to this project, I did listen to Flume's last mixtape, Hi This Is Flume, and I certainly understand why Palaces is so underwhelming to some. The beats on that project were more adventurous and wild, and they all flowed together to make the entire mixtape feel like one song. It was cohesive, strange and a blast to listen to. Comparatively, Palaces is pretty tame. It's certainly not as consistently exciting. Plus, there are some duds to be found on this album, namely "Only Fans," which is about as dumb as you would think it would be given the title. Even still, I quite enjoyed Palaces. It's not amazing, but it's an enjoyable collection of glitchy pop and EDM that is slightly more underrated than it should be.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Highest Building; ESCAPE; I Can't Tell; Get U; Jasper's Song; Sirens; Palaces
Worst Track: Only Fans
Just Mustard: Heart Under
Release Date: May 30
Genre: Shoegaze / Noise Rock / Post Rock
This is an interesting project. I knew nothing about this album nor this band going into it, and I came out it... enjoying my time with it? I think? Okay, let me put it this way. This is an album that is for a very specific mood. It is a dark, ominous album with some cool textures and sonic palettes built in. It gives off a despondent vibe using tension through its instrumentals. It's a very enchanting sounding album, and it's one that captivated me throughout. This is certainly an album for angry/depressive episodes. If you find yourself feeling down, maybe give this a spin. One thing I will mention is that the vocals will garner a mixed reaction. Either you love them or hate them. For me, it really depends on when I listen to this album. The singer's voice is dry, nasally and 100% absent of dynamics. That being said, it makes these songs sound all the more eerie. It works for the vibe, but I don't know if I would necessarily call them "good." Even still, this is a unique listen, and I certainly recommend checking it out at least once.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: 23; Still; Blue Chalk; Early; Rivers
Worst Track: Seed
BEST SINGLES OF MAY:
"The Heart Part 5" by Kendrick Lamar
"Welcome to Hell" by Black Midi
"Playing God" by Polyphia
WORST SINGLE OF MAY:
"Looking at Your Pager" by KH
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Post Malone: Twelve Carat Toothache
Release Date: June 3
Genre: Pop Rap
I like Post Malone. Even though I don't love his music, he's incredibly talented and he seems like a very nice guy. And Twelve Carat Toothache is immediately interesting to me as it's his most personal yet. This album talks about his struggles with alcoholism and depression in some legitimately heavy ways. When recording this album, Post Malone seemed like he was in a dark spot, and I genuinely hope he is in a better place now. Now, with all of that said, how is the album itself? Honestly? It's pretty terrible. Yeah, I wish it weren't the case, but it's true. Sure, Posty does have his most heartbroken and revealing lyrics to date, but the instrumentals range from bland to wildly overdramatic to the point where it's hard to take some of these songs seriously. Plus, the production is awful. There is so much artificial reverb on every instrument, especially the vocals, to the point where everything simply melds together like wallpaper paste. It sounds bad. And unfortunately, with all of Posty's clear passion with the subject matter, I do wish it translated to his singing. Either he sounds like he's bored or like a goat. Plus some of his phrasing is just hilarious. I cannot take "Lemon Tree" seriously at all, simply because of the way he pronounces "better." Oh, and also it's because of his obnoxious vibrato that makes the song borderline unlistenable. There are so many lyrical, vocal and production choices that are simply baffling to me. Whether it's the "second verse" refrain on "Insane," the mushy ambient pianos on "Euthanasia" or the overly dramatic drum pounds on "Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol," I constantly wonder where Posty's influence ends and the label's control begins, because there's no way THIS, of all things, is Posty's final vision. I do think "I Like You" is a solid bop, and "When I'm Alone" has a pretty cool alternative pop thing going on, but that's about it. Sadly, Twelve Carat Toothache is a dud. Skip.
Grade: D-
Best Tracks: I Like You (A Happier Song); When I'm Alone
Worst Track: Lemon Tree
Angel Olsen: Big Time
Release Date: June 3
Genre: Alt-Country / Americana / Singer-Songwriter
Angel Olsen's latest album is a very charming, pretty and enjoyable set of alternative country tracks. The production is solid, the songwriting is great and the soundscapes evoke a kind of warm, cozy feeling that you won't find on many other albums this year. Sure, it's not the most exciting project and a few of the tracks get tedious pretty quickly, but I can't help but find myself growing peaceful as I listen. It's a nice album, and I definitely recommend it if you like your country a little bit more somber. This is the sad girl yeehaw album we need this year, and it is quite good.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: All The Good Times; Big Time; All The Flowers; Go Home; Through The Fires; Chasing The Sun
Worst Track: This Is How It Works
Joyce Manor: 40 oz. To Fresno
Release Date: June 10
Genre: Indie Rock / Power Pop
40 oz. To Fresno is a short and sweet collection of power pop and punk rock. The band does a good job at giving these songs character and urgency, all while giving us some fiery performances and some raw production. With nine tracks at sixteen minutes, this is a fun, breezy listen that is perfect for a short drive to your local grocery store. Sure, it's not necessarily my style. Some of the tracks come off a little hokey, and with such short lengths, not many of the songs get a chance to develop. But this is still a pretty decent rock record. Those that are fans of pop punk, especially Weezer, will get a kick out of this. It's solid.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: Souvenir; NBTSA; Don't Try; Gotta Let It Go
Worst Track: Dance with Me
Logic: Vinyl Days
Release Date: June 17
Genre: Boom Bap / East Coast Hip Hop
Logic has officially come out of retirement with his final album with Def Jam Records. I'm not a big fan of Logic, but I found myself really enjoying this one. The production uses boom bap instrumentals to its advantage, as each song has a great groove to them. Logic's flows are stronger than they have ever been, and the lyrical topics of family, music, criticism and more are told in interesting ways. This album is a solid example of taking previously established trends and sounds and making them feel fresh. Logic fits so well with this style, and I found myself rooting for him throughout the entirely of the album. There are a few corny moments, and some more dynamic variety would have been nice. Plus, I was not a fan of the over-reliance on skits. Even still, I though Vinyl Days was good. It's certainly not my favorite rap album of the year, but it's a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. Hopefully this is a big step into a much more fruitful second half of his career.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Tetris; In my lifetime; BLACKWHITEBOY; Bleed It; Clouds; Therapy Music; Ten Years; Porta one; Orville; Vinyl Days
Worst Track: Breath Control
Bartees Strange: Farm to Table
Release Date: June 17
Genre: Indie Rock / Singer-Songwriter
I decided to check this album out on a whim, and I am really glad that I did. Farm to Table is a great rock record. Full of passion and soul, Bartees Strange gives us 35 minutes of emotive and powerful rock and roll. The production is great, as the notes on the guitar bleed into each other on multiple tracks, giving this ethereal vibe. Bartees's voice is great, and his lyrics are poignant and smart. It's an impactful album, and I find myself transported to a different world with each listen. There is some genre experimentation here that doesn't always work. Some of the more electronic cuts don't really connect with me. "Cosigns," in particular, has this weird sonic vibe that makes me that this is what it would sound like if Radiohead did trap. It's not necessarily flattering, but it is an interesting listen. Even still, I love Farm to Table. It's a simple yet fantastic collection of rock songs. Check it out, because I know that this one will be unnecessarily slept on.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Heavy Heart; Mulholland Dr.; Tours; Hold The Line; Escape This Circus; Hennessey
Worst Track: Cosigns
Weezer: SZNZ: Summer
Release Date: June 21
Genre: Alternative Rock / Power Pop
Weezer continue their EP series on the four seasons with SZNZ: Summer. While I wasn't a huge fan of the folk pop direction of SZNZ: Spring, I find myself digging this a lot more. The performances are a lot more fiery and energetic this time around, resulting in some really fun and catchy songs. Sure, it has a lot of the same Cuomo-isms that make Weezer songs corny, but the band does a good job at making them not as distracting this time around. I also like how the band plays with structural switch ups. Hearing them take on different thrash riffs mixed with their power pop formula does make some songs disjointed, but it adds some cool dynamics to the melodies. Plus, those passages are pretty well written. Now, I do wish that the production was not as clean. The mixing has very little grit to it, resulting in many of these songs not having as much impact as they need. Even still, I found this project to be quite solid. It has some of my favorite songs of theirs since OK Human. Check it out.
Grade: B
Best Tracks: Blue Like Jazz; What's The Good Of Being Good; Thank You and Good Night
Worst Track: Cuomoville
Muna: Muna
Release Date: June 24
Genre: Synthpop / Indie Pop
Indie Pop trio Muna have released, potentially, one of the best pop albums of the year. This album is so lush and colorful, as it is full of emotive, uplifting pop music. It's full of bops, featuring fantastic production and performances, all while capturing a feeling of love and hope. The themes of love, joy, queerness, self discovery and self care are all executed in such an endearing, catchy and likeable way. These songs make me feel like I'm hanging out with these three ladies at a park. It's bright, cheery and a delight to listen to. Not every song grabs me and the vocals could be more expressive, but I found myself loving this self-titled Muna album. I can't wait to hear what they do next.
Grade: A-
Best Tracks: Silk Chiffon; What I Want; Home By Now; Kind of Girl; No Idea; Solid; Anything But Me
Worst Track: Loose Garment
Soccer Mommy: Sometimes, Forever
Release Date: June 24
Genre: Indie Rock / Singer-Songwriter
I've never been that big into Soccer Mommy. What songs I had heard of them in the past I found to be pretty dull. With Sometimes, Forever, the band goes into a somewhat shoegazy direction with their indie rock. It makes for some really cool sound palettes. I especially love how twisted songs like "Holy Affliction" and "Darkness Forever" get. There's an ominous presence to those tracks that I can't help but love. There are a few other songs I enjoy as well, but unfortunately, I can't bring myself to fully enjoy this album. It's shoegaze approach ends up coming off pretty one note as the album goes on. Sure, it sounds neat production wise, but the appeal wears thin. Plus, I'm just not a big fan of Sophie's vocals. They come off dry and bland, and I can't get into them. Despite that, I don't hate this album. In fact, I like it. It's pretty decent. It's just not grabbing me as much as I want it to. If you like indie rock with a dreamy, somewhat psychedelic edge, then you'll probably like this more than me.
Grade: B-
Best Tracks: Bones; Holy Affliction; Shotgun; Darkness Forever; Feel It All The Time
Worst Track: Following Eyes
Regina Spektor: Home, before and after
Release Date: June 24
Genre: Art Pop
Home, before and after is my first experience with Regina Spetkor's music. She's been making music since the mid-2000s, but I haven't heard anything from her until right now. After listening to this album, I've learned that I should listen to more of her stuff, because this is really good. Regina gives us a very charming and whimsical take on art pop and singer-songwriter music. She spins tales that are so intriguing and cute while giving us these lush and ornate instrumentals. The piano playing is great throughout, and there's a lovely bit of intimacy with Regina's singing and songwriting. This album also toes the line when it comes to balancing the sweet with the surreal. You get lovely, heartfelt ballads like "Becoming All Alone" and "Coin," but then you get these really odd, winding tracks like "Up the Mountain" and "Spacetime Fairytale." No matter the angle, I can't help but be drawn to what Regina is doing. There are a few songs that don't do a lot for me sonically, and there are times when the production can get overbearing, but I really enjoyed this album. It's not going to be for everyone, but for those willing to spend time with it, it is a rewarding experience.
Grade: B+
Best Tracks: Becoming All Alone; Up the Mountain; One Man's Prayer; Spacetime Fairytale; Coin; Loveology
Worst Track: Raindrops
BEST SINGLES OF JUNE:
"Training Montage" by The Mountain Goats
"Glasgow" by Jockstrap
"Cracker Island (feat. Thundercat)" by Gorillaz
WORST SINGLE OF JUNE:
"Orphan Tears II" by Your Favorite Martian
Stay tuned for part 3, covering the months of July through September!
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