THE LOUDER STUFF
CREEPER – American Noir (EP)
My Chemical Romance produced by Jim Steinman. (8)
DEAFHEAVEN – Infinite Granite
The most polarizing metal band of the last 10 years drops the metal entirely and does full-on shoegaze. No blastbeats, no screaming, still great. (8)
FOXING – Draw Down The Moon
Emo revivalists go pop. (7)
LINGUA IGNOTA – Sinner Get Ready
If you told me she’s Diamanda Galas’ daughter I’d probably believe you. (8)
QUICKSAND – Distant Populations
Another excellent album from influential post-hardcore veterans to whom bands like Deftones owe their whole existence. (8)
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – Primordial Arcana
Nature-loving, tree-hugging black metal feels strangely appropriate this summer as wildfires destroy every single forest and humankind’s climate change fuckups become even more apparent. (8)
THE OTHER STUFF
BODY MEΠA – The Work Is Slow
Avant-rock supergroup (including drummer Greg Fox from Liturgy, guitarist Sasha Frere-Jones who’s perhaps better known as a music critic, and a couple of other guys) on post-everything jazzy psychedelic jams. Interesting, but don’t expect anything resembling a proper tune you can hum. Quick note to the band: Fuck you for that ONE character in the band name, I’m not taking the trouble to figure out if it’s supposed to be Greek or Cyrillic, I’ll just use the Greek keyboard I already have installed and I don’t care if it’s right or wrong. (7)
BILLIE EILISH – Happier Than Ever
She’s still a teenager and mega-successful and good on her and I’m an old fart and I don’t want to be mean because it’s most likely my fault for not getting it, but I think this is a boring album and it’s essentially one straight hour of a 19-year-old whining about not being able to handle being rich & famous and getting older. (5)
LOS LOBOS – Native Sons
America’s best and most underrated rock band celebrates their native Los Angeles with a wildly eclectic covers album, paying tribute to Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, War, The Blasters, Jackson Browne and others. (9)
LUMP – Animal
I’m a huge Laura Marling fan and this side-project where she works on more electronically-flavored ideas that don’t fit on her regular albums is almost as exciting as her day job. (8)
WILLIE NILE – The Day The Earth Stood Still
A harder-rocking Dylan? A poor man’s Springsteen? Say whatever you want, I’m really having a blast. (8)
TY SEGALL – Harmonizer
Garage rocker who almost topped the most reliable year-end lists back in 2018 now goes a bit sludgier. (7)
SHANNON & THE CLAMS – Year Of The Spider
A delightful little album of 60’s -influenced nuggets. Garage punk, girl groups, surf rock, doo-wop, all meshed up in a retro-sounding but never derivative package. (8)
STURGILL SIMPSON – The Ballad of Dood & Juanita
Country music’s renegade continues taking wild left turns, this time releasing a concept album set in Kentucky in the 1860’s that plays like a classic Western movie and includes a guest spot by Willie Nelson, who was probably born around that time. (8)
YOLA – Stand For Myself
A wonderful Southern-fried country soul album from the Nashville-based Brit. (8)
