Average Rating: 3.86 Rating Variance: 0.90 Objectivity Score: 68% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAdjy The Idyll Opus (I-VI)Anberlin Never Take Friendship PersonalAnberlin CitiesAnberlin Dark Is the Way, Light Is a PlaceAnberlin VitalAnberlin LowbornAt the Drive-In Relationship of Commandblink-182 Blink-182Blink-182 matured quite nicely. Tom, Mark, and Travis really pulled together to put out their best and most cohesive album. Gone is the childishness and immaturity from their previous albums, and in its place is a more mature and refined sound. Rather than just playing fast-paced, catchy songs, Blink-182 crafted songs with focus and emotional weight. It's without a doubt their best and one of the best in the pop punk genre.Bloc Party Silent AlarmA fine example of indie rock at its best. Plenty of neat guitarwork, impressive drumming, bass parts that tie in nicely, and a distinct singing voice. The four members of the band each play their own respective part effectively, and together they work as a unit to put out a memorable and catchy album in the genre.Bloc Party A Weekend in the CityA Weekend in the City is denser in its sound, and even has a darker tone at times. While it is slightly different soncially from Silent Alarm, there is still a lot to be enjoyed here.Bon Iver For Emma, Forever AgoA deeply intimate album crafted purely from the heartache of a man and his acoustic guitar while in a cabin in woods during the dead of winter. Justin Vernon doesn't rely on much aside from his guitar and his own voice, but he uses both to perfectly recreate the atmosphere he was in. Every strum, every buzz from the guitar strings, his falsetto voice, and more. It's baren, cold, and lonely yet there is still a sense of warmth. It's an album that needs to be played at the right time and place, but when it does it really strikes a chord. It doesn't demand or compete for your attention; rather it's there for you when you allow it to be.Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon IverBon Iver, Bon Iver is the sound of the transition and thawing of winter into the spring. Where For Emma, Forever Ago was sparse and cold, this album is more layered and lush in its instrumentation. It's paints a different atmosphere than FE,FA does, but it's just as moving and beautiful. The perfect music to experience nature to.Brand New Deja EntenduDeja Entendu is the defining album displaying that Brand New was a band that was only going to evolve with each new release. While Your Favorite Weapon was youthful and fun, Deja Entendu is a lot more collected and "quiet" at times while still maintaining that energy. Full of poignant and touching lyrics handling topics that teenagers as well as adults can relate to. It is that transition from being a teenager into an adult, and an album that grows with you.Brand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeThere's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about this album. Very few albums have emotionally and physically shaken me, but this album has and still does. Brand New amped up everything to craft their best album full of intense emotion and passion that stands as their grand masterpiece.Brand New DaisyDaisy is The Devil and God's raw and abrasive brother. It's visceral and even "ugly" at moments, but it's full of emotion underneath it all. One of Brand New's more underrated albums, but full of cathartic highs it's one of their best.Brand New Science FictionWhether intentional or not, Brand New are master manipulators and have always played with people's expectations. From the changes in sound from album to album, to teasing their fans with a bare announcement on their new and final album, to suddenly releasing said album in its entirety the next day. They've always managed to catch fans off guard. For a long while it seemed like this album was an enigma, just some sort of fictitious thing fans hoped for but would never see the light of day. Despite all that here we are where it's a real thing, but is it any good? For a band that have released what many consider to be masterpieces there was always the question if they'd be able to put out another one. Miraculously after all this time, they managed to maintain a level of integrity by creating a perfect mix of what they've done throughout their career. Science Fiction is a surreal listen and experience, highlighting the best elements of past Brand New while sounding new. It feels fresh yet right at home with the rest of Brand New's discography. This album had every reason against it to flop, and have Brand New just fizzle out after so many years. Despite all the odds they were able to release the perfect end to cap off their career. Circa Survive Blue Sky NoiseI was caught off guard with just how much I really liked this given that I only mildly liked the band's earlier work. This album resolves my main problem with their previous albums in that they weren't wholly memorable. Blue Sky Noise is much easier to get into. It's full of memorable moments and songs that have their own distinct sound. Everything from the instrumentals, to the production, to Anthony Green's vocals shines from track to track. Blue Sky Noise is a captivating listen from beginning to end.Death Cab for Cutie TransatlanticismDeftones White PonyDeftones Diamond EyesDeftones Koi No YokanDeftones OhmsExplosions in the Sky The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead PlaceForgive Durden WonderlandA pretty stellar album of "theatrical" pop punk. Forgive Durden go for a unconventional approach in the genre with time changes and songs often drastically changing mid-song. Along with the fantastic instrumentation the lyrics follow the concept of the album's title, Wonderland, combining fantastical imagery with corporate corruption, lust, and greed. This all makes for a memorable album filled with catchy and metaphorical songs relating to the modern business world. An impressive debut album that unfortunately was never properly followed up to.Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ FightFrightened Rabbit The Winter of Mixed DrinksGates (USA-NJ) Bloom and BreatheThis has gotten many comparisons to Thrice if they mixed post rock with their music, and for good reason. The music has the "lighter" twinkling guitars, crescendos, and loud climaxes that is to be expected with post rock. Guitarist and vocalist, Kevin Dye's vocals soar with his singing and screams across each track. There are some really stellar moments throughout this album, from softer, more delicate moments to where the band explode with walls of sound. Truly a stunning debut from a fantastic band that is sure to deliver more stunning music.Glass Beach The First Glass Beach AlbumEvery now and then there will be an album that will come out of nowhere for me and just click with me. This is one of those, and despite only listening to it a few times so far it just hits all the right spots for me.Icarus the Owl Love Always, LeviathanTheir debut saw Icarus the Owl playing with their sound, but with their follow-up album they define it. This album is filled with great tapped guitar riffs, technical musicianship, and catchy vocal hooks along with better mixing and proper production for the band. Everything is fine-tuned and refined here making for an impressive and catchy album.Icarus the Owl Icarus the OwlTied with Love Always, Leviathan as my favorite from them. The instrumentation is still tight, it's still just as catchy (if not more catchy with some of the vocals), and probably their most consistent release.Jack's Mannequin Everything in TransitUpbeat and catchy songs with memorable hooks and infectious choruses. They all stand as fantastic pop/pop rock songs on their own, but mixed with Andrew McMahon's emotion and lyrics they become something meaningful and personal not just to him but also to the listener. It's an incredible gem of an album that will hold a special place to those that can easily fall in love with it.Jack's Mannequin The Glass PassengerThe Glass Passenger shows a more mature Andrew McMahon with an album tied with a critical time in his life. Where Everything in Transit was very upbeat and sunny, its follow up is not. The Glass Passenger deals largely with McMahon's experience being diagnosed with leukemia and his subsequent battle with it. With that being said, the album is not depressing or bleak. There is a significant change in tone and the subject matter is clearly very personal; however, McMahon managed to miraculously stay positive and hopeful. With that context, The Glass Passenger is a testament to McMahon's courage and optimism during a dark time in his life. While the songs are quite the departure from the fun and upbeat tone of Everything in Transit, The Glass Passenger is nevertheless filled with a lot of heart. Andrew McMahon, though incapacitated for a time, returns stronger than ever with a collection of great piano pop filled with wonderful lyrics, catchy songs, and a hopeful tone.Jimmy Eat World Bleed AmericanI picked this up after hearing popular singles, The Middle and Sweetness, and I was happy to find an album packed with songs that are equally catchy and memorable. From the faster and more upbeat songs to the slower more acoustic-based songs, this album is filled with quality material and some of the best the genre has to offer.Jimmy Eat World ClarityJimmy Eat World FuturesJimmy Eat World showed they were a band able to write some of the most top notch pop rock songs (see their previous two albums), but it was with Futures that they were able to hone in to make their strongest album. It has the same catchy and endearing elements the band previously displayed, yet underneath it all there is a dark undertone. The song topics go through the struggles of love, relationship troubles, problems with addictions, and even losing friends succumbing to addictions. It really hits home for anyone that has ever dealt with these things. While the subject material is darker and moodier there still remains a sense of hope for brighter days. What really makes this album special and a classic to me is the closer, 23. It is my definite favorite song from the band, and one that always moves me when I listen to it. It perfectly caps off the album. "What are you hoping for?" sings Jim Adkins. It's about believing the future holds brighter and better things despite our darkest days. "I, I always believed in futures" La Dispute Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair Wasn't too keen on Dreyer's voice when I first found this band, but after some time and eventually coming back to this it clicked. It's funny because my opinion has totally flipped where I think Dreyer's vocal performance is absolutely key to their music. There's a raw energy to his delivery, and the instrumentation perfectly accompanies the tone he's conveying. The poetic lyrics are a fantastic touch too. Perfect to listen to when you're feeling heartbroken and angry over some sort of relationship.La Dispute WildlifeA fantastic step-up. The storytelling songwriting recounts various stories of tragedy and suffering with each song. The details paint each story, and they're all made relatable in some way through the narrator. Shows we've all got bruises and scars in life, and everyone goes through trials and has to cope with something. This is the album that solidified my interest in La Dispute, and I consider it to be their best to date.Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton - Original Broadway CastI never would have imagined that a hip hop/rap musical based on the life of Alexander Hamilton would ever be this good, but it absolutely is.Manchester Orchestra I'm Like a Virgin Losing a ChildThere's a certain personal and intimate quality to this album. While being a great alt-rock album in its own right, its real strength and what proved to make Manchester Orchestra a new staying name in the scene lies in the quiet and soft moments that exude emotion. Also Colly Strings is easily one of my favorite songs that they have ever done.Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything to NothingThe band goes for a more alt-rock sound with both loud and soft songs brim with passion and raw energy.Manchester Orchestra Simple MathSimple Math sees Manchester Orchestra taking it to the next level in their sound. From both the rocking moments to the quiet moments, Simple Math has it all. Sweeping and epic, it's their best work to date. (On a side note, this album will always be my graduation album)Manchester Orchestra A Black Mile to the SurfaceA Black Mile to the Surface shows Manchester Orchestra going for a layered and expansive sound. On the spectrum of the band's sound this leans more toward Like a Virgin or Simple Math rather than Mean Everything to Nothing or Cope. While listening through it, I made the realization that I prefer the more intimate, tender, and emotional stuff they do. Don't get me wrong, I like hearing them rock out, but I feel it's really special when that emotional core of their music shines through. This album has that special quality that I connect with, and it's right up there with some of the best they've done.Manchester Orchestra The Million Masks of GodMayday Parade A Lesson In RomanticsmewithoutYou Catch For Us the FoxesThis established more of mewithoutYou's traits and set the standard for what fans could expect and love from a mewithoutYou album: Aaron Weiss as a dramatic vocalist, his lyrics blending personal experiences, faith, and biblical/religious references, all with top-notch instrumental work.mewithoutYou Brother, SistermewithoutYou's crowning masterpiece. It's got the perfect blend of their rock roots mixed with their more indie rock side that they'd start to explore. Slick guitars, pumping drums, and gorgeous additional hints of brass, accordion, and harp are all present. Along with this is Aaron's signature lyrical style to weave together scripture, literary works, and personal experiences into poetic and poignant lyrical pieces. Not to mention his spoken-word, passionate shouty performance. Everything comes together to create a truly unique piece of music and experience that has become the band's gold standard.mewithoutYou Ten StoriesAfter the shift in style with their previous album, Ten Stories is a bit of a return to form for the band. It's got the fable-like storytelling of It's All Crazy with the musicianship of Brother, Sister. With it being a concept album it revolves around the story of a train crash that results in the release of various circus animals. Aaron swings through each song telling of the events that follow with each of the different animals, masterfully mixing in religious and philosophical undertones to these allegorical characters. Truly underneath the tales of these animals is something human. It's real, even tragic, but as always, ever so poetic.mewithoutYou Pale HorsesHad a hard time really clicking with this one. It's got the energy and passion, but lyrically it's a tad bit out there with cryptic lyrics. mewithoutYou have never really been too clear cut, but here there's a lot more to unpack. That being said it's definitely a grower and undoubtedly a worthy addition for the band. Veiled underneath the dense content is a very personal take from Aaron which we haven't gotten at this level in quite some time. It's apocalyptic in a worldly and personal sense, and I can't help but applaud them for creating a compelling album in a nonconventional way.mewithoutYou [Untitled]Perhaps mewithoutYou's most cathartic album yet. [Untitled] is dynamically varied going back and forth from being loud and visceral to soft and vulnerable. While at times the band sounds as vicious and unhinged as they ever have, there are also times where they dial back into some of their most quiet and intimate moments. As always at the center of mewithoutYou's sound is Aaron, this time the album being reflective of his mental and emotional headspace. Aaron has always been open and honest with his lyrics and performance, but here he feels the most bare and exposed that he ever has. It feels like a total mental collapse complete with feelings of uncertainty, inadequacy, and even defeat. It's bleak (which is saying something considering past albums involved suicidal thoughts and apocalyptic crisis), but within all of [Untitled]'s ugliness there's a sense of beauty and awe.Motion City Soundtrack My Dinosaur LifeMy personal favorite from the band, and the one that got me to listen to Motion City Soundtrack. I see this as their strongest and most consistently good from beginning to end. The music is snappy and packs a punch with crunchy guitars, an overall improved sound for the band, and Justin's stronger soaring vocals. It has the fun quirky side of MCS, but also the deeper and personal side. On top of it all it is undeniably catchy.My Chemical Romance The Black ParadeI never gave this a listen as a teen when it came out (aside from a few singles), and just only listened to it recently, but I can easily see myself enjoying this and coming back to it. While it hasn't made the same impact to me as others that have listened to it for years, I still find this to be a fantastic album. It's a great rock opera with strong lyrical themes dealing with some heavier topics and a blend of styles that is distinctly My Chemical Romance's.Panic! at the Disco A Fever You Can't Sweat OutAn album that I was obsessed with as a young teen. Its mix of a electronic pop rock first half and a more theatrical second half completely captured my attention. A lot of people hate it for any given reason, but for me it was a gem and a huge staple to what I listened to, and to me it still holds up and a good place in my heart.Paramore Riot!Paramore continue on the success of their debut with this follow-up that is more "poppy" and upbeat this time around. Probably their catchiest and most "fun" album.Paramore Brand New EyesParamore honed in to create an album that shows a step up in quality all around for the band. The instruments all sound stronger here, and Hayley sounds as fantastic ever with some of her strongest vocals. Overall it showed a sense of maturity for Paramore at the time with their strongest album to date.Pixies DoolittleRadiohead Kid AThere's been innumerable amounts of praise toward this record. All I can really say for myself is that Kid A is an experience. It was one of my first impressionable musical experiences in my teenage years and even now it still leaves an impression on me when I listen to it. It's weird, cold, unfamiliar, even presenting some strange landscapes at times, but it's all human. Kid A pretty accurately translates that feeling of the unknown in anticipation for the new millennium. Its feelings and tone are just as applicable and real now as it was back then. If anything it looks even stronger and more relevant now looking back in retrospect. It took a long time for this to grow on me, but now there's no denying that this was and is quite the impactful record of the 2000s.Radiohead OK ComputerFor a long while I just liked this album and Radiohead. Despite greatly respecting this album, I just didn't hold it in nearly the same high regard as others. I just liked it because everyone else seemed to. It took a very long while, but it (and perhaps Radiohead in general) finally clicked with me. It goes without saying that this has stood the test of time since its release and is one that still influences music today for a reason.Radiohead In RainbowsSay Anything ...Is a Real BoyA pop punk masterpiece pieced together by fantastic instrumentation and Bemis's witty and sometimes brutally honest lyrics. His introspective and sometimes self deprecating nature is ever present here, but it never comes across as overbearing or pitiful. Rather it lends itself to some angsty, but always fun moments throughout this album. A wonderful and defining example of creative pop punk music out there. Say Anything In Defense of the GenreAn eclectic album where Bemis and company explore and experiment a big range of musical territory with different styles of rock, instruments, themes, and even guest vocalists. Bemis continues his brand of witty, tongue in cheek pop punk, but he crafts an even more over the top album that offers a deeper look into his almost schizophrenic mind. As chaotic as it might sound, the band is able to make it work from song to song making for a lot of memorable highlights. It does run a little too long here and there, and could have been trimmed down a little bit, but for the amount of music here there's a lot of good to be found including some of the band's best material.Say Anything Say AnythingSay Anything release a more straightforward pop rock/pop punk album which results in their catchiest and "poppiest" album. The album is essentially a condensed and simplified mixture of their previous albums while still maintaining the good qualities from those same efforts. Max Bemis still has his penchant for writing non-conventional, witty, and sarcastic lyrics into catchy melody hooks. The band sounds as great as ever with snappy guitars, pounding drums, the occasional strings/keyboard, and overall polished production. Though it might seem like the band got a bit less ambitious and experimental on the surface, further listening will show the band's creativity and experimenting is still present. It's corny and silly, but all very real and honest.Sigur Ros ( )Sigur Ros Takk...Silversun Pickups CarnavasSilversun Pickups blend fuzzy and distorted guitars (a la grunge/shoegaze), great drums, ambient sounds, and a unique voice to craft a pleasing and solid indie rock and alternative rock debut.Silversun Pickups SwoonSilversun Pickups solidify their indie rock/shoegaze rock sound with this album. Packed with fuzzy distorted guitars, great drum work, effective bass lines, and the occasional strings all mixed with Brian Aubert's unique vocals that range from higher pitched soft whispers to loud shouts/screams. The band effectively switches from soft and focused to loud and bombastic from track to track being able to find the perfect balance between the two, and knowing how to create effective build ups to those moments.Soundtrack (Theatre) Dear Evan HansenTaking Back Sunday Tell All Your FriendsTalking Heads Remain in LightTaylor Swift 19891989 sees Taylor Swift fully embracing her modern pop identity and doing it gracefully. Prior to this I hadn't considered myself a fan of Taylor Swift, only really being familiar with her singles through radio play. Giving this a listen (as well as her past discography) I found some fantastic pop music. The songs are catchy with clever songwriting and genuine lyrics. Between this and Speak Now, this is Taylor Swift at her absolute best.The Cure DisintegrationThe Dear Hunter Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. LeadingThe Dear Hunter expand on the sound they established with Act I. The album as a whole is a bit long, but it doesn't feel long as its runtime flies by with a number of highlights. Casey's ability to blend styles and genres, and craft very well-written songs is very evident here. They're most "consise" album and my personal favorite of the Acts.The Dear Hunter The Color SpectrumThe Dear Hunter The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)An incredibly ambitious project from Casey Crescenzo (as if the Acts weren't enough) that further displays his talent. What's remarkable is not only Crescenzo's ability to create such a diverse collection of songs, but also how each color appeals to different people. Everyone has their own favorites for their own reasons. This project is broad, but also so consistently good that it can appeal to such a wide audience. There's a lot that can be said about The Color Spectrum whether as a whole or individually with each color EP, but without a doubt it's an impressive collection of music.The Dear Hunter Act IV: Rebirth in RepriseI always believed The Dear Hunter to be a brilliant band, but this blew everything I knew about them out of the water. Everything Casey Crescenzo and company have done to show their incredible talent thus far all culminates here into a crowning achievement of their best album to date. There are numerous jaw-dropping moments that give me chills. It is a bit lengthy with a slight lull in the middle, but it is packed to the brim with creativity. While it is only one part of a six part series, it is absolutely a work of art.The Hotelier Home, Like NoPlace Is ThereCertain music affects different people, and certain music just hits you. Usually albums take a fair amount of time for me to consider being great let alone a classic, but this was an exception. From the lyrics to the vocal performance and delivery, and the emo and pop punk sensibilities, this was just about an instant classic for me. There was that special feeling when an album especially resonates with me, and I still feel it whenever I give this a spin.The National AlligatorLike many people Alligator was my introduction to The National. Admittedly I found it rather boring, but there was just something that kept me trying to listen to them. There seemed to be something beneath the surface to the downbeat sound that I was missing. With repeated listens I started picking up different subtleties and nuances strewn throughout the album, and really found The National's strengths. What I first found to be boring or bland started to resonate with me. Singer Matt Berninger's baritone voice is not particularly amazing, but something about his voice, lyrics, and performance just lulls and draws you in. Add to this the band's fantastic musical work full of great drumming, guitar parts, and even lovely strings and horns that perfectly plays along with Berninger. The National capture the feeling of young adulthood; the good of feeling free-spirited, limitless, and invincible, but also the dark side with inner anxieties, nerves and insecurities. Alligator is a grower, but it's a premium offering from one of this generation's most important bands.The National Boxer"Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults." That line sums up not only this album, but also The National pretty well. Much like most of the band's discography, Boxer is a look at the average, ordinary, and unexciting events of adulthood. That may sound mundane, but oddly that's where The National strike the best at. It may be about the seemingly uneventful, but it's something we all experience eventually and can relate to. Going through day-to-day adult life things can be exciting and also downright stressful. We win some, we lose some, and at times we all want that escape from the monotony. Boxer reflects that sentiment rather nicely.The National High VioletHigh Violet is a more atmospheric and subdued addition to The National's tales of adult despair. The songs are generally more slow-paced this time, but never to the band's detriment. The songs are still just as fine-tuned and intricate as ever for the band. Failing relationships, internal anxieties and turmoil, and depression, it's all on display here. High Violet may appear seemingly plain and simple at first, but repeated listens will prove to show it's one big slow burn of an album full of subtleties and heartache. The National Sleep Well BeastThe National have always played music about the sort of "everyday" man. It has proved to be successful over the course of a number of albums, but eventually something had to change in their sound to keep things from being stale. Sleep Well Beast is a refresher that revitalizes and also pushes The National forward. Things are still essentially the same (in a good way), but there's just enough new to mix in to keep things fresh. From the pristine production to the more electronic textures, it feels like the logical next step for the band, but also like it could compare to some of their best material. Thematically the album deals with the usual topics to be found on a National album, done in the way they do it best: ever so subtle. "It feels like we're in this period where there's a tendency to just want to hibernate when things get really weird. It's an escape to try to sleep through it, but the beast for me isn't a negative thing: it's the future. We've all got kids, and when I see all of our kids? They've got a challenge ahead of them, but I feel positive about the future." This sentiment can be felt especially with the numerous current predicaments faced in the modern day world. Sleep Well Beast is about the tendency to want to sleep or disconnect ourselves when the unthinkable happens, but to choose now, despite those feelings, to be awake. This is just as relevant today more than ever. With Sleep Well Beast, The National continue their string of fantastic albums and continue to prove to be one of the most important modern bands being as classy as ever.The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese DreamThe Wonder Years The UpsidesAn autobiographical album for the young adult/college life. Observational on that time in life, and just ready to move on. Stellar "debut" for one of modern pop punk's best.The Wonder Years Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm NothingThis was the album that first put The Wonder Years on the map for me. With Suburbia they took what made The Upsides a good album and improved upon it. Suburbia has a sense of maturity for The Wonder Years, and put them on the map as a leading force in the modern pop punk resurgence.The Wonder Years The Greatest GenerationThe Wonder Years come together to deliver their most consistently strong album. From the songwriting, to the lyrics, to the band's performance; this is them at their best. One of the best modern pop punk albums.The Wonder Years No Closer to HeavenDan Campbell showed new signs of life with his side project, Aaron West, and with "No Closer To Heaven" a new shift is present for The Wonder Years. The pop punk tendencies are a bit toned down now more in favor for an alternative rock sound, but it comes across as a natural evolution and logical new direction for the band to take. The music is still clearly very personal and meaningful to the band, especially frontman, Dan Campbell, despite having great writer's block during the songwriting process. While not as immediately catchy as their previous albums, NCTH is a grower and hits the great highs that The Wonder Years are capable of.The Wonder Years Sister Cities"Sister Cities" shows even more progression and maturation following The Wonder Years' last album. The music isn't as upbeat or catchy as it used to be, and that's perfectly fine. The band have said they've wanted to write music that reflected where they were in their lives, not trying to write the type of album when they were younger, and they manage to succeed in doing that here. Ultimately it goes for different sounds that haven't been on a Wonder Years album until now, but it still feels and sounds true to the band. If "The Upsides," "Suburbia," and "The Greatest Generation" were seen as a pop punk trilogy, Sister Cities can be seen as the second part in a new trilogy following "No Closer to Heaven" hinting at an incredible finale to come. For now "Sister Cities" is a fantastic new chapter for The Wonder Years and a hopeful new future.The Wonder Years The Hum Goes on ForeverThrice The Illusion of SafetySome of their tightest musicianship with great instrumental work, blistering drums and fast guitar riffs. None of their other albums is quite like this. In its concise runtime, the band's ability to play incredibly well is showcased. While lyrically and from a songwriting perspective it may not be as complex, diverse, or deep as their future albums, Illusion of Safety proved Thrice to be a talented and special band. Thrice The Artist in the AmbulanceThrice VheissuLooking back this album really was a defining moment that marked Thrice as one of the more creative and innovative bands in the genre. From the lyrics, to the musical elements incorporated, to the ideas that songs originated from this album shows the genius and craftsmanship that Thrice would further show. Definitely an album that grew on me that I now greatly recognize and appreciate.Thrice The Alchemy Index Vols. I & IIFrom the heavier, aggressive sounds of the Fire EP to the electronic and somber tones of the Water EP, Thrice put out a more experimental side to them while still keeping it a record that is wholly a Thrice album. Sonically, lyrically, and thematically the band nails the concept of this project. Together with Volumes III and IV this is some of Thrice's most conceptually creative work.Thrice The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IVFrom the clear and ethereal sounds of the Air EP to the organic and stripped-down tones of the Earth EP, Thrice put out a more experimental side to them while still keeping it a record that is wholly a Thrice album. Sonically, lyrically, and thematically the band nails the concept of this project. Together with Volumes I and II this is some of Thrice's most conceptually creative work.Thrice BeggarsThrice Major/MinorThrice's strong songwriting is exemplified here with the whole band sounding as good as they've been, fantastic lyricism that Dustin Kensrue was known for by this point, and some of the band's strongest and most solid songs. This sits at the top as one of top albums from them next to Vheissu and the Alchemy Index. A great swansong to have gone out on for the band (though not truly one now with their return).Twenty One Pilots VesselWeezer PinkertonWeezer WeezerYellowcard Ocean AvenueYellowcard showcase their talent as a pop punk band with this defining album of their career. Fun pop punk anthems with great vocals and lyrics from Ryan Key mixed with upbeat guitars, drums, and beautiful violin parts. Together they crafted together a memorable album to those that grew up listening to it and to those that still listen to it today as a staple of pop punk at the time and even today.Yellowcard Lights and SoundsOne of Yellowcard's more experimental efforts in theme, mood, and sound. Initially it might seem bland and not as fun as their other albums, but it's a bit underappreciated. It does run a tad too long, and the songs blend together toward the end, but with repeated listens it gets better. There are great songs here, but a majority of them don't feel as memorable as other Yellowcard songs. Unfortunately it does lack some direction and isn't quite the album that it could have been, but there are some brilliant and even beautiful moments here and there.Yellowcard Paper WallsThis is the album that solidified the place that Yellowcard has in my life as one of, if not my favorite band. Everything from the guitars, drums, violin, singing, lyrics, and musical themes and ideas are some of the band's best and show a sign of maturity and growth for the band. From the get go this album is filled with fast and concise drum work, catchy vocal lines, great guitar work, beautifully mixed in violin parts; all things that are to be expected out of Yellowcard now. Where Ocean Avenue was the youthful summer of life, Paper Walls is that transition to moving on. It's looking at the past, to good times and also regrets, but not dwelling there. It's looking to the future for brighter things. As depicted with the album artwork on the front and back, it's the transition from the night of the past to the morning of the future. As said by Ryan Key, "I think it's impossible to spend as much as time with the people you love and depend on, and not put up walls between each other. I guess it felt like we were all sitting in our own little houses, and separated by the walls we had put up between each other, realizing that those walls were paper thin. We needed to escape. It was time to burn them down."Yellowcard When You're Through Thinking, Say YesYellowcard prove that even after some years of absence they've still got what it takes to remain a staying force in the genre. This is actually the album that got me to start listening to their discography. I knew of some their songs, but I hadn't fully listened to their albums prior to this. This album marked a triumphant return of the band back onto the scene. The songs still have the pop punk flair with great guitar work, fantastic drums, beautiful violin parts, and the ever catchy vocals. The album remains consistently strong by having a relatively short track list, but with songs that are brim with energy. For a comeback album the songwriting grew perfectly with a balance of youthful energy and a mature outlook that feels true to the band. It doesn't feel forced or like they were trying to stay relevant unlike other bands that ultimately failed in that regard. This album marked a band that celebrated the highs of youth and eventually grew and matured, but still managed to "forever be the young." It's the sound of looking at the past, the good times and bad, but being ready to move on. I owe a lot to this album and to Yellowcard's return.Yellowcard Southern AirYellowcard continue to ride in on their successful return with an album that returns a bit to the band's earlier years. While it's not a complete return to that sound, Southern Air is a bit more upbeat and poppy in tone while still incorporating the maturity displayed on their previous album. It feels like a more mature and modern Ocean Avenue. It has the summery fun that it had, but just done with the experience and fine tuning that the band developed with time. Yellowcard yet again deliver another immediately-satisfying album showing no signs of slowing down.Yellowcard Lift a SailI always thought of each of Yellowcard's post-hiatus albums being sequels or albums that follow in the same vein as their pre-hiatus albums. Much like WYTTSY and Southern Air mirrors Paper Walls and Ocean Avenue respectively, Lift a Sail parallels Lights & Sounds. This album follows more of an "experimental" sound rather than the band's usual style of pop punk which makes for different tones and sounds than they've done in the past. Lights & Sounds clearly had new ideas behind it, but was done perhaps a bit too early in Yellowcard's career. With Lift a Sail the band is able to better hone in on what they may have aimed for creatively. The pace of the overall album is slower, but in its place the songs have more dynamics in sounds especially with the violin. The flow is a bit mixed with a more radio-friendly rock first half, and a more diverse and interesting back half. While it's not as strong as their other albums, it does offer a new and interesting direction for Yellowcard. Yellowcard YellowcardIt's hard to express in only a few words how important Yellowcard have been in my life, and how much this album means to me. Suffice it to say, this is as good of a final record as I could have hoped for. As a self-titled and final album, "Yellowcard" is a definitive statement for everything the band has stood for throughout these years. Themes of heartbreak, grief in losing a loved one, pain in past failures and regrets, letting go and moving on, hope in brighter futures, staying strong, and more are all prevalent. Yellowcard have always been able to convey a sense of relatability through their music, and this is no exception. Musically it strays from the band's more pop punk roots, but it feels confident in its sound and direction. It sounds and feels like the album that they wanted to make. "Yellowcard" has a sense of finality and closure, and while it's bittersweet, it's a satisfying last chapter in their book. This album won't likely change people's opinions on them, but for longtime fans this is a fitting and pleasing close for the band. I don't care what the naysayers say; this album was never meant for them anyway. "Yellowcard" is the perfect swan song to cap off Yellowcard's career.4.5 superb65daysofstatic One Time for All TimeAgalloch The MantleAgalloch Pale FolkloreAgalloch Ashes Against the GrainAlanis Morissette Jagged Little PillAlcest Écailles De LuneAlejandro Aranda Exit FormAlejandro Aranda The Act of ForgivenessAlgernon Cadwallader Some Kind Of CadwalladerAlice in Chains DirtAlkaline Trio Blood, Hair, and EyeballsAmerican Football American FootballAmerican Football American Football (LP2)Anberlin Blueprints for the Black MarketAnberlin New SurrenderAnberlin SilverlineAnberlin ConvincedAndrew McMahon in the Wilderness Andrew McMahon in the WildernessA bit of a return to Andrew McMahon's more pop sensible and upbeat music. It's refreshing to hear catchy pop tunes from him again, but with the maturity shown on his recent outings. These are all very solid pop songs with hooky choruses, great piano parts, and McMahon's introspective lyrics. The only nitpick is that all the songs follow the same sort of mid-tempo beat. Regardless this is a great collection of songs that combines some of Andrew McMahon's best qualities as a songwriter and musician.Animal Collective FeelsAugust Burns Red ConstellationsBalance and Composure SeparationBayside BaysideBetween the Buried and Me ColorsBjork PostBjork HomogenicBjork VespertineBlack Country, New Road Ants from Up ThereBloc Party IntimacyQuite a drastic change for Bloc Party in which they experiment into a much more electronic music-based style. Heavier beats, synths, and vocal effects to Kele's voice are all prevalent here. Bloc Party took risks with this album which resulted in an album that split fans. While Intimacy is "unconventional" in the band's previous sound and definitely the most different from their discography so far, they succeeded with their experimentation throughout the album. Each song is unique and diverse with the varied instruments, but they all flow into a cohesive listen. Intimacy shows mature experimentation with an already talented band.Bomb the Music Industry! VacationBon Iver 22, A MillionJustin Vernon dabbles with a more electronic influence, but despite the noticeable shift in sound it still sounds and feels like a Bon Iver album. With these new sounds Vernon was able to craft fascinating new canvases for his songs that no one would have ever imagined he'd create in his early days. Definitely different, but it's just as good as his other music.Bon Iver i,iBoys Life Departures & LandfallsBraid Frame & CanvasBrand New Leaked Demos 2006For a collection of "scrapped" demos this is still quality material.Broadway KingdomsCap'n Jazz Shmap'n ShmazzCarly Rae Jepsen EmotionThis feels like what 1989 was to Taylor Swift. It's got a similar 80's inspired sound to it that fits for perfectly for Miss Jepsen. Fantastic pop album with great standouts. Casey Love Is Not EnoughCHVRCHES Every Open EyeHeavy synths and beats with clear production, and singer, Lauren Mayberry's "cute" but soaring voice make for an indulgently enjoyable electro-pop album.Circa Survive JuturnaCirca Survive as a whole are a good band, and while their debut is good it was a grower for me. It took repeated listens for me to really get into it.Circa Survive On Letting GoFor me an improvement from their first album with some great standout tracks, but much like Juturna this took some time to grow on me.Circle Takes the Square As the Roots UndoCity of Caterpillar City of CaterpillarCodeine The White BirchCoheed and Cambria The Second Stage Turbine BladeColdplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsCounterparts The Difference Between Hell and HomeCounterparts Tragedy Will Find UsCounterparts You're Not You AnymoreCounterparts Nothing Left to LoveCounterparts A Eulogy for Those Still HereCult of Luna A Dawn to FearDaitro Laisser Vivre Les SquelettesDance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle MountainDance Gavin Dance Dance Gavin DanceDance Gavin Dance HappinessDance Gavin Dance Instant GratificationDance Gavin Dance MothershipDance Gavin Dance Artificial SelectionDeafheaven SunbatherDeath SymbolicDeath Cab for Cutie PlansDeftones Around the FurDeftones Saturday Night WristDepartures Death Touches Us, From The Moment We Begin To LoveDispirited Spirits The Redshift BluesDuster StratosphereElliott False CathedralsEmery EveEvery Time I Die RadicalFireworks GospelFireworks Oh, Common LifeFleet Foxes Fleet FoxesFleet Foxes Helplessness BluesFoxing The AlbatrossFoxing DealerWhile the album as a whole is quite subdued, there are moments when the band knows when to crescendo to build up to more emotional and impactful moments. A bit of a step down from The Albatross lacking some of the passion from Conor Murphy's voice, but still a good release.Foxing Nearer My GodFoxing Draw Down the MoonFrightened Rabbit Pedestrian VerseFrightened Rabbit Painting of a Panic AttackFugazi The ArgumentFugazi 13 SongsFugazi Repeaterfun. Aim and Ignitefun. Some NightsFuneral Diner The UnderdarkGates (USA-NJ) Parallel LivesGatherers " ( mutilator. ) "Gatsby's American Dream Ribbons and SugarGatsby's American Dream VolcanoGlass Beach plastic deathGlassjaw Worship and TributeGlassjaw Material ControlGleemer Down ThroughGodspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenGojira From Mars to SiriusGojira The Way of All FleshGreen Day American IdiotHail the Sun WakeHail the Sun New Age FilthHail the Sun Divine Inner TensionHans Zimmer The Prince of EgyptHaste the Day Attack of the Wolf KingHe Is Legend I Am HollywoodHoly Fawn Death SpellsHop Along Bark Your Head Off, DogHopesfall The Satellite YearsHORSE the band Desperate LivingHot Mulligan PilotHot Mulligan You'll Be FineHot Mulligan Why Would I WatchHot Water Music CautionHot Water Music No DivisionI Hate Myself 10 SongsI Would Set Myself On Fire For You Believes In PatternsIcarus the Owl The Spotless MindA more technical pop punk sound with tapped guitar riffs, and odd time signatures and changes. It's a unique mix of catchy songs and impressive technical guitar and drum work that works for the band. Great debut from easily one of my favorite newly discovered bands.Icarus the Owl Pilot WavesIcarus the Owl bring yet another great new addition to their catalogue. Pretty pleased with how consistent they've been with each of their new albums. These guys have quickly become one of my favorite relatively unknown bands.Icarus the Owl Rearm CircuitsThese guys just keep it up with yet another great addition to an already consistently enjoyable discography. It's more of the same of what they've always done, but yet it's not bland. They keep the core of what makes their music likeable while also managing to keep things fresh. Perfect amount of catchy vocal hooks and tapped-riff instrumentation that's so satisfying.Ichiko Aoba Kamisori OtomeIn Her Own Words Steady GlowInsomnium Above the Weeping WorldIron Maiden PowerslaveIsles and Glaciers The Hearts of Lonely PeopleJack's Mannequin People and ThingsAfter the dire circumstances Andrew faced during The Glass Passenger era People and Things feels like a much needed revitalization in tone and sound. The album is poignant and in a lot of ways is a celebration of life. In that way, P&T feels like a fitting closer to this chapter of McMahon's life and like he's ready for what's next.Jason Isbell SoutheasternJedha MidwinterJeromes Dream Seeing Means More Than SafetyJeromes Dream PresentsJimmy Eat World Chase This LightJimmy Eat World Integrity BluesA strong release from Jimmy Eat World in a long while. Integrity Blues feels like a fresh and mature return to what the band does well: catchy and engaging songs with simple, meaningful lines that Jim Adkins delivers with such sincerity.Jimmy Eat World SurvivingJohnny Booth Moments ElsewhereJulien Baker Sprained AnkleJulien Baker Turn Out The LightsJulien Baker Little OblivionsJustice †Kacey Musgraves Golden HourKanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyKendrick Lamar To Pimp a ButterflyKings Kaleidoscope Becoming Who We AreKishi Bashi LighghtDelightfully unorthodox. Kishi Bashi's ability to masterfully play the violin and sing with a distinct falsetto voice is only part of his talent. He blends orchestral, pop, indie, and other musical elements seamlessly together into something that is uniquely catchy and fantastically beautiful. It's a sound that's uniquely his, and it somehow works stunningly. Kishi Bashi OmoiyariLa Dispute Rooms of the HouseMost subdued of their albums. While it lacks some of the punch that highlighted their previous albums, it shows a softer and more mature sound for the band.La Dispute PanoramaLaura Stevenson WheelLaura Stevenson The Big Freezeletlive. Fake HistoryLinkin Park Hybrid TheoryIn the early 2000s, Linkin Park were the voice for many adolescents growing up at the time. With their nu-metal, angst-filled sound they captured the interest of a lot of impressionable young listeners. It had a resonating effect, and for many it was what we needed. Hybrid Theory represents very personal fears, anger, and doubts, and it encapsulates what drew people to Linkin Park in the first place. It left an influence and impact on a generation.Linkin Park MeteoraThey took what made Hybrid Theory so great and made a more concise version of it. Hybrid Theory had a good collection of solid songs, but Meteora has stronger songs that play cohesively all together as an album. This along with Hybrid Theory are the best Linkin Park have done, and both alone were big contributions from the band to fuel a generation.Lorde MelodramaWasn't quite blown away initially like others, but this has grown on me. Pretty solid pop album.Majority Rule Interview With David FrostMajority Rule Emergency NumbersManDancing The Good SweatMassive Attack Mezzaninemaudlin of the Well BathMaybeshewill Not For Want Of TryingMaybeshewill Sing The Word Hope In Four-Part HarmonyMaybeshewill I Was Here For a Moment, Then I Was GoneMaybeshewill No Feeling Is FinalMayday Parade Mayday ParadeMayday Parade SunnylandMetallica Master of PuppetsMetallica MetallicaMetric FantasiesmewithoutYou A to B: LifeTheir most raw and heavy offering. It?s Aaron?s lyrics and performance that really makes this stand out. That?s not to discredit the rest of the band though, they perfectly match his level of vigor and energy. It's not my go-to mewithoutYou album, but when this albums hits, it hits.mewithoutYou It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's Alright!It's All Crazy follows down a different path that the band had yet to full explore previously. It sounds lighter than their previous post-hardcore influenced sound with more of a focus on horns/strings/woodwinds, and less on heavier and fuzzy guitars. Lyrically, Aaron dives more into allegorical, campfire-like fables, and performance-wise he's a little more toned down. It makes for a different album in their discography, but it's uniquely enjoyable and a delightful listen.Mineral The Power of FailingMinus the Bear Highly Refined PiratesModest Mouse The Moon & AntarcticaModest Mouse The Lonesome Crowded WestMotion City Soundtrack Commit This to MemoryThis took some time to grow on me. I found the first few tracks to be enjoyable, but found myself losing interest in middle of the album, but I do enjoy the album as a whole better now. Some of Motion City Soundtrack's defining material and one of their most consistent albums. The songs are upbeat and catchy which is too be expected, but the personal and even quirky lyrics here add a nice unique touch. There are songs that will have you wanting to sing along, and there are also poignant moments of heartache.Motion City Soundtrack Even If It Kills MeMotion City Soundtrack go for a sugary, poppy, and synth-infused sound here. It doesn't quite have the edge that other MCS albums/songs have, but it's so catchy.Movements Feel SomethingMovements No Good Left to GiveMuse AbsolutionMuse hone in to put their best qualities all together into their definitive album. It has hauntingly beautiful and eerie moments, serene classical piano pieces, and straight up loud stadium rock moments. It's chaotic, tranquil, and bombastic all in one. Absolution combines all of the very best of Muse into a cohesive and stellar piece of alternative rock.This is Muse at their best.Muse Origin of SymmetryMuse amplify everything to make a loud and bombastic album with their brand of "spacey" alternative rock. This is some of the hardest and "heaviest" songs that Muse have done (within one album) where the band just rocks out. There are lots of great and memorable moments throughout the whole album as Muse blast guitars, crazy pianos, and Matthew Bellamy's falsetto voice.My Bloody Valentine LovelessMy Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet RevengeNick Cave and The Bad Seeds Skeleton TreeNick Cave and The Bad Seeds GhosteenNight Verses Every Sound Has a Color...: Part INirvana In UteroNirvana NevermindNorma Jean Polar SimilarNorma Jean All HailNorma Jean Deathrattle Sing for Menouns While of Unsound MindOff Minor The Heat Death of the UniverseOff Minor Some BloodOpeth Blackwater ParkOrchid Chaos is MeOrchid OrchidOrchid Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow!Origami Angel Somewhere CityOrigami Angel Gami GangOso Oso Real Stories of True People Who Kind...Out of Service The Ground Beneath MePanic! at the Disco Pretty. Odd.Panic! ditch the darker moods and electronic elements that they had on AFYCSO for a more traditional classical rock sound influenced by the Beatles. Panic! sound the most cheerful and laid back they ever have here with catchy hooks, warm choruses, with piano, string and horn parts. The angst and energy found on their other releases isn't quite found here and is replaced with a more relaxed and mellow tone making for a complete and unexpected shift in sound from their previous album, but an enjoyable and pleasant listen.Panic! at the Disco Vices & VirtuesThe proper follow-up to A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. It's similar to that album, but it's from a slightly more "mature" and experienced band. Brendon Urie's vocals are strong as ever, the instrumental parts sound better, and the album is full of songs that are some of the band's best. Panic! were able to recapture the elements, sounds, and energy that made fans enjoy them in the first place. While I may like AFYCSO a little more (for nostalgic reasons), I consider this album to match it in quality if not better.Panic! at the Disco Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!Panic! delve further into their electronic side with an album full of thick synth parts, altered vocals through vocoders, spoken audio samples, and electronic beats. The band wanted to pay tribute to their roots in Las Vegas, and they succeed with a new but fitting sound. The catchiness and hooks are still here just with an almost 80's inspired backdrop.Panopticon ...And Again into the LightParamore All We Know Is FallingBack when Paramore was just an upcoming new band they showed promise with their debut album. This album has solid pop rock songs all around with strong vocals from a young Hayley Williams. With All We Know Is Falling, Paramore was a straightforward, female-fronted pop rock band, but they did it well.Paramore After LaughterParamore embrace more of their pop sound this time with an 80s-tinge. It's a shift stylistically, but still wholly a Paramore album. Hayley sounds great as usual, the aforementioned 80s sound works for them, and the fake happy lyrics and sound is a big part of the tone of the album.pg.99 Document #8pg.99 Document #7pg.99 Document #5Phoebe Bridgers Stranger in the AlpsPhoebe Bridgers PunisherPianos Become the Teeth Old PridePianos Become the Teeth The Lack Long AfterPierce the Veil Selfish MachinesPierce the Veil Collide with the SkyPool Kids Pool KidsPorcupine Tree In AbsentiaPorter Robinson NurturePortraits Of Past 01010101PUP The Dream Is OverRadiohead AmnesiacFollows a similar path that Kid A introduced for Radiohead. It had the unfortunate chance of following Kid A, and as such is a bit overlooked. But if you're willing to give it a chance you'll have a nice hidden gem.Radiohead The BendsRadiohead Hail to the ThiefRadiohead A Moon Shaped PoolProbably Radiohead's most gorgeous sounding album with pianos and strings. It's subtle and beautiful, but it can feel kind of long and drawn out at times if not in the right mood.Radwimps Your Name.Raein Il n'y a pas de orchestreRelient K MmhmmRide NowhereRise Against The Sufferer and the WitnessRolo Tomassi Time Will Die And Love Will Bury ItSaetia SaetiaSaosin SaosinSay Anything HebrewsThe most personal album by Say Anything or rather the man behind it. Hebrews offers a biographical look into the life of Max Bemis with his past, present, and future. The song topics range from his addiction with drugs and drinking, injustices against his Jewish heritage, his new marriage, his relationship with certain fans demanding that he go back to the way he used to be, being a father, his fears for his daughter, and more. Musically it's as eccentric as the experimental styles on In Defense of the Genre, and it even features a bevy of guest vocalists. Bemis sounds passionate and aggressive again, but this time coming from a man with a more mature perspective. This is Bemis being as open and honest as he ever has; it's fun, crazy, brash, cathartic, and even a bit of an emotional ride.Seahaven Halo of HurtSenses Fail Still SearchingSigur Ros Agætis byrjunSigur Ros KveikurSilversun Pickups PikulSilversun Pickups Neck of the WoodsA shift in a more experimental direction for Silversun Pickups. It's a bit more atmospheric and ambient with more synths and electronic elements mixed in. It's not as immediately engaging as their previous releases, and it takes multiple listens to fully digest and get into. Despite that it's a fitting evolution in sound for the band.Silversun Pickups Better NatureFollows after a similar direction as Neck of the Woods, but this time with more electronic influence and a 80's synth flair.Silversun Pickups Widow's WeedsSilversun Pickups Physical ThrillsSnowing I Could Do Whatever I Wanted If I WantedSomething Corporate NorthSomething Corporate mature a bit with a set of more emotional songs than their previous album. North is a bit more focused than Leaving Through the Window with an overall "slower" pace. In place of more upbeat songs, the band does seem to work around the piano parts more rather than sounding like a band with piano mixed in. It's consistently good throughout the album though it does lack some of the high points that LTTW had. It's still a great listen that displays the talent of Andrew McMahon and the piano pop that he would continue to play and perfect in his future music.Something Corporate Leaving Through The WindowFun pop punk/pop rock mixed with piano pop. There are some real gems here, unfortunately the album as a whole is bogged down a bit in the latter half with some filler. This would be higher if it were trimmed down a bit. Overall still a great mix of catchy tunes with heart from a young Andrew McMahon and his "punk rock band."Soundgarden SuperunknownSoundtrack (Film) The Greatest ShowmanSpanish Love Songs SchmaltzSpanish Love Songs Brave Faces EveryoneSpanish Love Songs No JoySt. Vincent Strange MercyState Champs The Finer ThingsState Faults Desolate PeaksState Faults Resonate/DesperateState Faults ClairvoyantStatic Dress Rouge Carpet DisasterSteven Wilson The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)Sturgill Simpson A Sailor's Guide To EarthSufjan Stevens MichiganSufjan Stevens Carrie and LowellA very vulnerable and intimate listen into Stevens's grief of his mother's passing. The album is stripped down of the lush music he filled his music, and in its place are gentle songs of mourning, regret, and remorse. As he once said, "This is not my art project; this is my life" which makes it all too real and heartbreaking.Sufjan Stevens JavelinSum 41 ChuckSunny Day Real Estate DiaryTakeharu Ishimoto The World Ends With You OSTTaking Back Sunday Where You Want To BeTaking Back Sunday Louder NowTalk Talk Spirit of EdenTame Impala CurrentsTaylor Swift FearlessTaylor Swift Speak NowTaylor Swift RedWhile Red can feel a little indecisive between some of Taylor's different sounds (modern pop tinged with electronic beats, pop with guitars and rums, or emotional acoustic songs) it's a consistently enjoyable pop album showing some of her best songwriting.Taylor Swift FolkloreTaylor Swift Fearless (Taylor’s Version)Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version)Taylor Swift MidnightsTexas Is the Reason Do You Know Who You Are?Thank You Scientist Stranger Heads PrevailThe Academy Is... Almost HereDuring the rise of Fueled By Ramen bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, The Academy Is... were amongst that group. It might have been easy to write them off as another one of "those" bands based off of the smaller attention the band received. While they never quite had the amount of attention as the aforementioned bands, the band still delivered some great songs. Their debut, Almost Here is an album full of fine pop rock tunes that is immediately catchy and memorable. Each song has its own identity, but they all equal in quality with some shining more than others. Even after years since its release, this still stands as a pretty great pop rock album.The Academy Is... SantiThe Antlers HospiceThe Chariot One WingThe Cure PornographyThe Dangerous Summer Reach for the SunThe Dangerous Summer War PaintThe Dear Hunter Act I: The Lake South, the River NorthJust a fantastic teaser for the future great things that The Dear Hunter would later release.The Dear Hunter Act III: Life and DeathAct III doesn't quite have as many highlights as the other Acts, but it's still incredibly well-written and performed. Still a good and solid follow-up in the Acts series.The Dear Hunter BlackThe black EP is dark, distorted, and bleak from its sound to its lyrics. Lyrically its focus on negative emotions and human corruption fits with the tone. In my opinion this has the best execution of its interpretation of its color out of all them.The Dear Hunter IndigoThe standout from the whole project and really from The Dear Hunter's music in general. The Indigo EP is electronically-drenched with thick synths, clear production, and a spacey and atmospheric sound. I would be curious on hearing Casey create more music akin to this. "Progress" exudes all the best qualities of this EP.The Dear Hunter GreenThere's a natural beauty and organic feel to the Green EP as Casey goes for an acoustic and folk-based sound here. The inclusion of mandolin, violins, the harmonica, etc. make for a mellow, earthy sound fit to play while exploring the woods.The Dear Hunter RedStraightforward alt-rock with an aggressive edge at moments. This one took some time to grow for me for some reason. Some of it feels "samey" with the instruments sounding a bit simplified. "We've Got a Score to Settle" is a highlight and I wish the rest of the EP matched that song quality and intensity. Still it's an EP with both Casey Crescenzo and Andy Hull so that alone is pretty amazing.The Dear Hunter VioletThe most familiar to The Dear Hunter's usual theatrical sound with the Acts. If you can't sit down to listen through one of the full Acts because of the length, you can find the same type of listening experience with this short EP that's just as great.The Dear Hunter MigrantPart of what makes Migrant great is that it's still The Dear Hunter's music but stripped down in a sense. As much as I like The Acts, I'm not always willing to commit to listen through them. Those are albums that are better enjoyed when listening to them in their entirety with the songs sounding better and making more sense in context. Honestly I'm not always willing to sit through the whole thing. Migrant doesn't revolve around any storylines or concepts; it's TDH crafting their music, and it's just as lush and well-written as their other releases.The Dear Hunter Act V: Hymns with the Devil in ConfessionalNot as immediately engaging as Act IV, but it's just as full in its sound, and is every bit grand in its scope. From the narrative told, to the music, there's a sense of climax as it's all pushed forward. As the "final 'rock' record in the Act series" (whatever that may mean) Casey and company go out with a bang.The Dillinger Escape Plan Option ParalysisThe Dillinger Escape Plan One of Us Is the KillerThe Dillinger Escape Plan DissociationThe Feelies Crazy RhythmsThe Gaslight Anthem Sink or SwimThe Gaslight Anthem The '59 SoundThe Hotelier It Never Goes OutPop punk tinged in 90's emo full of youthful heart, angst, and honesty. A debut that proved that The Hotelier would soon be a force to be reckoned with.The Mars Volta De-Loused in the ComatoriumThe Menzingers After the PartyThe National Trouble Will Find MeTrouble Will Find Me starts off slow and feels like it runs a bit longer than the usual National album. Initially it felt like something to trudge through to me whenever I tried to give it a listen, and for a while it seemed like it didn't quite hit the same highs as Alligator, Boxer, or High Violet. With time, however the good started to shine through.The Republic of Wolves His Old BranchesThe Republic of Wolves VarunaThe Republic of Wolves No Matter How NarrowThe Republic of Wolves shrineThe Republic of Wolves Why Would Anyone Want To Live This Long?The Starting Line Say It Like You Mean ItMaybe just straightforward and a little formulaic pop punk, but The Starting Line do it so well here. From beginning to end this album never lets up.The Story So Far Under Soil and DirtThe Story So Far What You Don't SeeThe Story So Far The Story So FarThe Story So Far Proper DoseThe Strokes Is This ItThe Weakerthans Left and LeavingThe World Is a Beautiful Place... Whenever, If EverThe World Is a Beautiful Place... Illusory WallsThere Will Be Fireworks The Dark, Dark BrightThrice To Be Everywhere Is to Be NowhereTo Be Everywhere shows that Thrice haven't lost their steam with a consistently strong album brim with energy. The songwriting is still top notch, and the production does all the band members justice by bringing out the best of them. Kensrue's great penmanship is still present with lyrics that are very aware and themes that are relevant to the modern world. It's Thrice doing what they do best, and it's great to still have a band like them still going strong.Thrice Horizons/EastTigers on Trains GrandfatherTiny Moving Parts CelebrateTired Lion Breakfast for PatheticsToby Fox Undertale OSTAmazing soundtrack to accompany an amazing game. Perfectly captures the sound of older chiptunes found in RPGs and even mixes some modern sounds into the mix here and there. A good amount of variety here, and it's all the more impressive that it was just one guy that made all the music.Too Close to Touch Nerve EndingsAlways had a soft spot for this type of music. While the modern post-hardcore genre has a fair amount of run-of-the-mill bands, new band, Too Close To Touch are a step up from their peers. On initial glance they might seem like just another one of those bands; however, for the music they do, they do it well. The music and lyrics are great, but the star is vocalist, Keaton Pierce. He has a melodic voice to deliver some surprisingly catchy hooks and hold his own. TCTT aren't likely to change others' opinions on the genre, but this is a debut that will entertain any fan of this genre.Tool LateralusTouche Amore Parting The Sea Between Brightness And MeTouche Amore Is Survived ByTouche Amore Stage FourTransit Listen and ForgiveTrent Reznor and Atticus Ross The Social Network OSTTurnover Peripheral VisionTV on the Radio Dear ScienceTwenty One Pilots TrenchType O Negative October RustUlcerate Stare Into Death and Be StillUnderoath Define the Great LineUnwound Leaves Turn Inside YouUnwound RepetitionUnwound New Plastic IdeasUnwound Challenge For a Civilized SocietyValleyheart Heal My HeadWednesday Rat Saw GodWhite Ward Love Exchange FailureWhite Ward False LightWilliam Ryan Key ThirteenAs a huge fan of Yellowcard, I was excited to see Ryan would be making more music. There was slight hesitation though and worry that I might not like his new solo content as much as what he did with Yellowcard. Thankfully with Thirteen, I was able to lay aside those fears. Ryan carries the same personal and genuine songwriting he had with Yellowcard, but now with an acoustic, folk-tinged sound. It's something new yet familiar from him, and a good new direction that I'm looking forward to seeing him develop.William Ryan Key VirtueWilliam Ryan Key Everything Except DesireYaphet Kotto The Killer Was in the Government BlanketsYellowcard One for the KidsYellowcard's proper debut. With Ryan Key at the lead the band was given the direction that was needed. Yellowcard have really grown since this, but this still displays the heart, sincerity, and relatability that the band would have in future releases.Yellowcard Childhood EyesYou and I The Curtain FallsYuki Hayashi My Hero Academia Original SoundtrackStellar soundtrack for a stellar show. Filled with great stuff that really amplifies the tone of the show with "You Say Run!" being one of the best. 4.0 excellent+44 When Your Heart Stops BeatingThe better of the two bands formed from blink-182's breakup. While AVA/Tom had their heads in the clouds, Mark and Travis were a bit more grounded which resulted in a collection of very solid songs. Tonally the album has more of an alternative rock flair rather than the poppy pop punk blink had. It's not as upbeat, and is slower paced at moments, but the band is able to consistently capture the listener's attention. Mark carries quite well as the frontman doing a sufficient job being the solo vocalist. There's nothing incredible about his voice, but there's more of a range to his voice than previous efforts. It would have been great to see how this band's sound would have grown, but sadly this appears to be the only album the band will put out. It's the closest thing to blink's self-titled, and it's the best thing any member of blink-182 has released after their breakup. 7 Angels 7 Plagues Jhazmyne's LullabyA Day To Remember HomesickA.A.L. (Against All Logic) 2012-2017Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties We Don't Have Each OtherAaron West and The Roaring Twenties Routine MaintenanceAaron West and The Roaring Twenties In Lieu of FlowersAC/DC Back In BlackAFI Sing the SorrowAFI DecemberundergroundAlcest Souvenirs D'Un Autre MondeAlexisonfire OthernessAlkaline Trio Is This Thing Cursed?All Get Out Nobody Likes A QuitterAll Time Low Don't PanicA pleasant surprise and step up for the band just when they were at their lowest. The songwriting and lyrics have improved, and the actual band sound their best. The songs don't feel like rehashes of the same thing over and over. Instead it's an album that feels fresh from All Time Low, and it's easily their best to date.allie (USA) maybe next timeAlvvays Blue RevAnberlin Lost SongsAnd So I Watch You From Afar GangsAndrew McMahon in the Wilderness Zombies on BroadwayAndrew's come a long way in his life. He's always wrote great music I could connect with about his life, and here it's no different. Zombies on Broadway is full of what you can expect from McMahon: piano pop, vocal hooks, and authenticity. His life is his music, and his music is his life.Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Upside Down FlowersAngel Olsen My WomanAngel Olsen All MirrorsAnimal Collective Sung TongsAntarctigo Vespucci Love in the Time of E-MailAnxious Little Green HouseArab Strap As Days Get DarkAsian Glow Stalled Flutes, meansAugust Burns Red Death BelowBauhaus In the Flat FieldBayside Sirens & CondolencesBayside InterrobangBayside There Are Worse Things Than Being AliveBeach House BloomBen Howard Noonday DreamBen Howard Collections from the WhiteoutBen Quad I'm Scared That's All There IsBig Red Machine Big Red MachineBilly Cobb Halloween IVBjork BiophiliaBlack Country, New Road For the first timeBlack Flag DamagedBlack Midi SchlagenheimBlack Midi HellfireBlacklisted Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than GodBleachers Strange DesireA catchy and anthemic record perfect for summertime.blink-182 Take Off Your Pants And JacketTake Off Your Pants and Jacket falls in between two very different albums in blink-182's discography. It follows after the same upbeat, catchy sound from Enema, and there are moments that show growth for the band. Makes for some of Blink's most fun songs.blink-182 Enema Of The StateYoung and immature blink-182 being themselves. You either love it or hate it. Lyrically it's lackluster, and musically it's not technically impressive, but man if it isn't a fun time if you're into this genre of music.Bloc Party FourThere are some gems here and there, but unfortunately as a whole it just feels like a collection of songs versus a proper album. Good to hear Bloc Party together, it's just too bad this was all we got from the core band returning.Blue October Spinning the Truth Around (Part II)Bomb the Music Industry! ScramblesBomb the Music Industry! Adults!!!: Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited By Nothing!!!!!!!Boston Manor Be Nothing.Brand New Your Favorite WeaponA straight up pop punk album that is tongue in cheek, witty, and catchy. The instrumentation is tight and the songwriting and lyrics are quite smart. In retrospect this album might seem like the odd one out in the band's discography, but Brand New proved early on that they were a cut above your average pop punk band.Brand New 3 Demos, ReworkedI still enjoy the demos and may even prefer their charm, but it's nice to hear these tracks "updated" and reworked as if they were new songs.Brandi Carlile By the Way, I Forgive YouBright Eyes Letting Off the HappinessBring Me The Horizon SempiternalBring Me The Horizon That's the SpiritBrokenTeeth How to Sink SlowlyCar Seat Headrest Teens of DenialCarly Rae Jepsen DedicatedCasey Where I Go When I Am SleepingCasey How to DisappearChelsea Wolfe ApokalypsisDark and hauntingly beautiful; just not sure if it's for me.Chelsea Wolfe Pain Is BeautyChelsea Wolfe AbyssChelsea Wolfe Hiss SpunChelsea Wolfe She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to SheChepang SwattaChevelle Wonder What's NextChevelle NIRATIASChildish Gambino CampAs someone that doesn't listen to much or enjoy much rap/hip hop, I found this to be an enjoyable album. Donald Glover has a nice flow with nerdy pop culture references, and touches a tad on his personal life. Musically it's enjoyable overall, but it's the songs with strings, pianos, etc. that stray from the usual rap beats that stand out. There are a few misfires here and there, but overall a fun listen.Childish Gambino Because the InternetChildish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!"This is sitting somewhere in the middle for me. Glover really works the funkadelic sound and it's enjoyable while I'm listening to it, but it's not something that I really found myself wanting to come back to. Glover has a great voice, and this album highlights it; I just would want to hear more of his "clean" singing voice.Childish Gambino 03.15.20Chokebore Black BlackChristie Front Drive StereoCHVRCHES The Bones of What You BelieveCirca Survive Violent WavesMost Circa Survive albums for me need multiple listens to really take in its sound, and this was no exception. I found their first two albums to be growers, but by comparison this makes those seem much more immediately engaging. It's their longest album to date, but it takes its time in being more sprawling in its sound. Violent Waves needs time to sit, but it's rewarding and a solid addition to the band's discography.Circa Survive DescensusCirca Survive The AmuletCity of Caterpillar Mystic SistersCocteau Twins TreasureCoheed and Cambria In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3Coheed and Cambria From Fear Through the Eyes of MadnessCold Collective WeathervaneColdplay A Rush of Blood to the HeadColdplay ParachutesColdplay X&YCopeland IxoraCopeland BlushingCounterparts ProphetsCounterparts The Current Will Carry UsCrywank Tomorrow Is Nearly Yesterday And Everyday Is StupidDad Hats SpillDaft Punk DiscoveryDance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain IIDance Gavin Dance Acceptance SpeechDance Gavin Dance AfterburnerDance Gavin Dance Jackpot JuicerDaughters You Won't Get What You WantDeafheaven Roads to JudahDeafheaven Infinite GraniteDeath Cab for Cutie The Photo AlbumDeath Cab for Cutie We Have the Facts and We're Voting YesDefeater TravelsDefeater Empty Days and Sleepless NightsDeftones DeftonesDeftones GoreDepeche Mode ViolatorDepeche Mode Music for the MassesDepeche Mode Black CelebrationDepeche Mode Memento MoriDevo Freedom of ChoiceDirty Projectors Bitte OrcaDomestic Terminal I Could See Midnight SkyDomestic Terminal All The Stories Left To TellDua Lipa Future NostalgiaEagles Hotel CaliforniaEcho and The Bunnymen PorcupineElder Brother Stay InsideElvis Costello Imperial BedroomEmbrace (US) EmbraceEmery Rub Some Dirt on It Emily Scott Robinson American SirenEmperor In the Nightside EclipseEmpty Country Empty CountryEmpty Country Empty Country IIEscape the Fate Dying Is Your Latest FashionEthel Cain Preacher's DaughterEvery Time I Die Low TeensEverything Everything Man AliveEverything Everything Get to HeavenEverything Everything Raw Data FeelExplosions in the Sky Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die...Explosions in the Sky All of a Sudden, I Miss EveryoneExplosions in the Sky Take Care, Take Care, Take CareExplosions in the Sky The WildernessAfter being stagnant for some time, Explosions finally mix things up a bit for something refreshing in their catalogue.Fair to Midland Inter.Funda.StifleFall Out Boy Take This to Your GraveBack when Fall Out Boy made simple and fun pop punk music. Nothing revolutionary or genre defining, but still fun nonetheless for the time and even today.Fall Out Boy From Under the Cork TreeFall Out Boy follow up Take This To Your Grave with an album that is less pop punk and a little more pop rock. This actually helped change things up a bit with varied instrumental work from song to song while still maintaining the catchiness. Not as consistent as TTTYG, but there are highlights that are some of the band's most well-known songs.Fall Out Boy Infinity on HighThis is the first album that Fall Out Boy released that actually feels and sounds like an album versus a collection of songs. The band adds a few different sounds into the mix like strings, horns, and beats which helps to add diversity to the music. Patrick Stumps voice was great on prior albums, but here he shows it off a bit more as a great vocalist. The songs are catchy as usual and the band is able to keep things pretty fun and enjoyable throughout the album's entire playtime. Fall Out Boy's most consistent album.Fall Out Boy Folie a DeuxFor a while I wasn't a fan of this album; I remember being greatly disappointed when it was first released. Even after repeated listens it never really captured my attention, and I forgot about it for a long while. After much time and returning to listening to the album it has grown on me. I still don't love this album, but I appreciate it a lot more. While I feel the songs for the most part aren't the most notable in Fall Out Boy's career, they are well-crated and it's consistently catchy and strong throughout its runtime. FOB tried out something different at the time with the clear difference in musical influences, but the album still had the same hooks and large choruses the band was known for. Folie a Deux was the last proper album they released as a band (let's forget their "return") and it even has a sense of closure and finality. This was Fall Out Boy at the height of their creativity, and it would have been a great final album to have capped off their career with. Fall Out Boy So Much (For) StardustFamily Dynamics ServiceFireworks All I Have To Offer Is My Own ConfusionFireworks Higher Lonely PowerFleet Foxes Crack-UpFleet Foxes ShoreFleshwater We're Not Here To Be LovedFlorence and the Machine LungsFlorence and the Machine CeremonialsFlorence and the Machine How Big, How Blue, How BeautifulFlorence and the Machine High as HopeFlorence and the Machine Dance FeverFrank Ocean channel ORANGEFranz Ferdinand Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz FerdinandFrightened Rabbit Sing The GreysFrom Indian Lakes The Man With Wooden LegsFugazi End HitsFugazi In on the Kill TakerFugazi Steady Diet of NothingFugazi Red MedicineGang of Youths Go Farther in LightnessGatsby's American Dream Gatsby's American DreamGatsby's American Dream Why We FightGlassjaw Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About SilenceGojira The LinkGojira Terra IncognitaGojira L'Enfant SauvageGojira MagmaGojira FortitudeGospel The LoserGrayscale UmbraGreen Day DookieGrizzly Bear Yellow HouseGrizzly Bear Horn of PlentyGrizzly Bear VeckatimestGrizzly Bear ShieldsGrizzly Bear Painted RuinsHaley Heynderickx I Need to Start a GardenHammock Everything and NothingThe perfect music to fall asleep to, and I mean that in the best way possible. The compositions feel hazy with gentle guitars, echoing vocals, fuzzy distortion, and more to create clouds of sound to float away on. Everything and Nothing carries the listener and drifts with a stillness, easing into colorful, dream-like landscapes. It all makes for a serene and uplifting experience.Hayley Williams Petals for ArmorHayley Williams FLOWERS for VASES / descansosHeavenward (USA) PyrophonicsHellogoodbye Would It Kill You?Heroin HeroinHey, ily! Psychokinetic Love SongsHikaru Utada Deep RiverHolding Absence The Noble Art of Self-DestructionHoly Fawn Dimensional BleedHome Is Where The WhalerHoney Harper StarmakerHopesfall ArbiterHot Cross CryonicsHot Water Music Forever and CountingHot Water Music A Flight and a CrashHot Water Music Fuel for the Hate GameHow to Care for Flowers For a Brief Moment I Felt the Sun’s Warmth…Hundred Reasons Glorious SunsetHungry Ghosts Alone, AloneI DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME 1981 Extended PlayI DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME RazzmatazzI DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME Gloom DivisionI Feel Fine The Cold in Every ShelterI the Mighty Karma Never SleepsI the Mighty SatoriI the Mighty ConnectorI Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism... iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbookIn Her Own Words UnfamiliarIn Her Own Words Distance or DecayIress FlawIron Maiden Iron MaidenJames Blake James BlakeJamie xx In ColourJapanese Breakfast JubileeJeromes Dream LPJeromes Dream The Gray In BetweenJessie Ware What's Your Pleasure?Jessie Ware That! Feels Good!Jimmy Eat World InventedJimmy Eat World DamageJosh Ritter Spectral LinesJoshua Fit For Battle To Bring Our Own EndJoy Division CloserJoy Division Unknown PleasuresJoyce Manor Joyce ManorJukebox the Ghost Jukebox The Ghost LPDelightfully catchy indie pop/rock. The blend of lovely piano, guitar, and drums with vocal hooks make for an album full of infectiously catchy and instantly enjoyable songs that are sure to be stuck replaying in your head. Also the solo piano versions of the songs are absolutely lovely.Julia Holter Loud City SongKacey Musgraves Star-CrossedKanye West 808s and HeartbreakKarate KarateKerosene Heights Southeast of SomewhereKill Your Ex From Words to MotionKing Crimson DisciplineKing Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Omnium GatherumKing Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of...Kings Kaleidoscope Beyond ControlKings Kaleidoscope ZealKishi Bashi 151aKishi Bashi SonderlustKISS Creatures of the NightKnuckle Puck CopaceticA solid debut from a band that's lumped within the modern pop punk genre. Some of the album is bogged down with some repetition and filler, but there's definite promise here.Kristofer Maddigan CupheadL.S. Dunes Past LivesLa Quiete La fine non è la fineLate Night Cardigan Life Is Bleak and It's My Cheat DayLCD Soundsystem Sound of Silverletlive. The Blackest Beautifulletlive. If I'm the Devil...Lights SiberiaLights Little MachinesLike Torches ShelterLike Torches are a pop punk band I found through their involvement with Yellowcard in touring, and having Ryan Key and Ryan Mendez produce this album. Funnily enough there are moments throughout this album that remind me of Yellowcard, though that's not to say the band sounds like a carbon copy of them. There are obvious similarities sure, but Like Torches are able to stand on their own. Does "Shelter" challenge the genre or bring anything new to the table? No, not necessarily, but Like Torches know what kind of band they want to be, and from the lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation they do it all well. I can see how people would skip over this band, but I found this to be a solid album and contender with other bands in the genre today. This is the type of album that I could see myself enjoying in my youth that I can also now enjoy just as much as an adult.Lindsey Stirling Lindsey StirlingLinkin Park Minutes to MidnightMinutes to Midnight marked a change for Linkin Park. A lot of people have criticized the band for the change in their sound and for not making something more akin to Hybrid Theory or Meteora. From there it just continued as a pattern with every subsequent album they released. I too was more accustomed to the sound of their earlier material, but I still found much to enjoy here. They made some of my favorite songs from them here, and this is far from being as bad as people have made it out to be.Linkin Park The Hunting PartyThe dream album that many fans of Hybrid Theory and Meteora hoped for. The Hunting Party returns to Linkin Park's roots while still feeling like a natural evolution in their sound. It feels like the entire band are back in full force, and they haven't sounded this loud or aggressive in a while. Definitely one of their best effort in some time.LITE STRATALittle Big League These Are Good PeopleLittle Big League Tropical JinxLoma Prieta Last CityLoma Prieta LastLord Huron Lonesome DreamsLord Huron Long LostLorde Pure HeroineLow I Could Live in HopeLow Things We Lost in the FireLowercase The Going Away Presentlowheaven collapseLucy Dacus Home VideoMagdalena Bay Mercurial WorldMalady MaladyMan with a Mission Tales of PureflyMan with a Mission Break and Cross the Walls IMan with a Mission Break and Cross the Walls IIManchester Orchestra CopeCope sees the band doing a straightforward rock album. While still being enjoyable it feels like a bit of a regression considering the heights they've reached in the past. My main problem is that some of it sounds similar with things getting lost in the guitars. All in all it's still pretty enjoyable.Maria BC Spike FieldMaruja KnocknareaMastodon RemissionMastodon LeviathanMastodon Blood MountainMastodon Crack the SkyeMastodon Hushed and GrimMaybeshewill Fair YouthMayday Parade Anywhere But HereMayday Parade Monsters in the ClosetMayday Parade Black LinesMayday Parade What It Means To Fall ApartMercyful Fate MelissaMetric Live It OutmewithoutYou I Never Said That I Was BravemewithoutYou Other StoriesmewithoutYou [untitled] e.p.Midas Fall Cold Waves Divide UsMidwest Pen Pals Inside JokesMinor Threat Out of StepMiracle Musical Hawaii: Part IIMock Orange The Record PlayModest Mouse Good News for People Who Love Bad NewsMoon In June (JPN) ロマンと水色の街Moss Icon Lyburnum Wits End Liberation FlyMotion City Soundtrack I Am the MoviePop punk with synths that's a bit hit or miss. Some great songs mixed with some skippable filler.Motion City Soundtrack GoMy second favorite album from Motion City Soundtrack behind My Dinosaur Life. While Go is not as snappy as MDL was, the band still manages to maintain the same level of songwriting here. Instead of being in your face all the time with densely-packed songs, the album has a sense of levity with somewhat lighter moments. This allows for more room for the songs to breathe and to have a punch when needed. The band also "experiment" a small bit with different sounds rather than the usual guitar + synth riff songs. While it may not have the same defining moments and songs from their earlier material, this album is more consistently enjoyable throughout with the same quirks and qualities of previous MCS albums.Mr. Bungle CaliforniaMuse ShowbizMuse started out fairly strong showing their talent with this promising debutMuse Black Holes & RevelationsMuse incorporate new electronic elements, guitar parts that sound like they could have been pulled from a western movie, and crank up the grandiosity up more than the band ever has (at the time). Muse have always had a bold and ambitious tone, but it is ever present on Black Holes and Revelations. The band forgoes subtlety and fully embraces a grand symphonic rock sound. Despite the songs sounding a bit different from what Muse have done in the past, it fits nicely into their discography and evolution as a band.Musk Ox Inheritance Mutemath MutemathMy Bloody Valentine Isn't AnythingMy Bloody Valentine m b vMy Chemical Romance I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your LoveMy Chemical Romance Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous KilljoysNeck Deep Life's Not Out To Get YouNeck Deep release a refreshing reminder of the more fun and upbeat aspect of pop punk aside from their more moody and sad contemporaries. Catchy choruses and guitar riffs all fit into a fun listen, but it does suffer a bit from the cliches of this style of pop punk. Still a great listen full of fun hooks.Neil Perry Lineage SituationNight Verses From the Gallery of SleepNirvana BleachNo Pressure No Pressure EPNothing The Great DismalOasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory?Off Minor InnominateOne Step Closer All You EmbraceOpeth OrchidOpeth MorningriseOrville Peck PonyOrville Peck BroncoOso Oso The Yunahon MixtapeOso Oso Sore Thumbostraca DisasterOut of Service BurdenOvergrow Walls of MirrorsPanic! at the Disco Death of a BachelorBrendon Urie manages to hold his own with Panic! at the Disco by putting together an energetic effort with the band's (or his) newest offering. Urie's voice sounds great as ever as he displays his range throughout the album with panache. Musically it does call back to the band's older work mixing pop/rock, symphonic horns and strings, and electronic elements. The music does tie in with the theme of the album which combines the "lavish" LA lifestyle with the theatrics of stage plays. The theme carries through the album fairly well, though it does wear thin at moments being a bit excessive leading to some lackluster lyrics. Death of a Bachelor feels more like Brendon Urie's solo project (which it is at this point) though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Urie shows that he's capable of carrying a solo career with a penchant for writing a musically catchy, fun, and energetic time.Paper Route Real EmotionQuite a gem of electronic-tinged indie pop/rock that will probably go under a lot of people's radars (seeing as it nearly went under mine). It's got the right mix of big choruses to sing along to, guitars to rock out to, and softer, dreamy moments to drift off to.Paramore ParamoreFollowing the loss of two of their core members, Paramore managed to continue on strongly. Thought it was just okay at first and was a bit harsh on it, but it's grown with time and more listens.Parannoul To See the Next Part of the DreamParannoul After The MagicParannoul / Asian Glow / sonhos tomam conta Downfall of the Neon YouthPearl Jam TenPentimento PentimentoPerfume Genius No ShapePerfume Genius Ugly SeasonPierce the Veil A Flair for the DramaticPierce the Veil MisadventuresPinegrove 11:11Pixies Surfer RosaPorcupine Tree Closure/ContinuationPorter Robinson WorldsPortishead DummyPUP PUPPUP Morbid StuffPUP The Unraveling of PUPTheBandPure Reason Revolution EupneaPure Reason Revolution Above CirrusPVRIS White NoiseA satisfying and strong debut. PVRIS blend electronic pop and pop rock that is catchy, energetic, and fresh. The instrumental parts blended with electronic elements create an aesthetic that works perfectly with the vocals. Vocalist, Lyndsey Gunnulfsen gives a fantastic performance with her strong voice and catchy hooks. White Noise is a solid collection of songs from a promising band.Radiohead The King of LimbsWhile it doesn't strike as much of a memorable chord as Radiohead's other albums, it is still a nicely-crafted and enjoyable listen if you give it a chance.Real Friends ComposureRelient K Let It Snow, Baby... Let It ReindeerRelient K Forget and Not Slow DownRestorations RestorationsReversal Of Man This Is MedicineRise Against Siren Song of the Counter CultureRites of Spring Rites of SpringRolo Tomassi HystericsRolo Tomassi CosmologyRolo Tomassi AstraeaRoyal Coda To Only a Few at FirstRuby Haunt Between HeavensRun the Jewels Run the JewelsRun the Jewels Run the Jewels 2Ruston Kelly HalloweenSaidan Onryo II: Her Spirit EternalSaidan Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic DepravitySaor OriginsSaosin In Search Of Solid GroundSaosin Along the ShadowSay Anything BaseballSay Anything Anarchy, My DearI don't dislike this like most people, but this was a tad disappointing initially. Say Anything go for a more simplified approach similar to their self titled, but the difference being that it lacks the punch found in their other albums. The songs don't deliver like they should, having noticeably watered down instruments and lackluster lyrics. Despite some flaws, it still has some good moments.Sea Wolf Leaves in the RiverSea Wolf White Water, White BloomSenses Fail Let It Enfold YouSenses Fail Life Is Not a Waiting RoomSenses Fail If There Is Light, It Will Find YouShabazz Palaces Black UpShakey Graves Can't Wake UpSigur Ros VonSigur Ros Med Sud i Eyrum vid Spilum EndalaustSigur Ros ValtariSigur Ros ÁTTASincere Engineer Cheap GrillsSiouxsie and the Banshees JujuSlick Shoes Rotation and FrequencySlowdive Just for a DaySlowdive Everything is AliveSoda Stereo Cancion AnimalSomewhere South of Here Leave Me for the CrowsSoundtrack (Film) Scott Pilgrim vs. The WorldSpaceships RuinsSpiritbox SpiritboxSpiritbox Eternal BlueSt. Vincent Marry MeSt. Vincent ActorSt. Vincent St. VincentState Champs Around the World and BackState Champs Living ProofSteven Wilson The Harmony CodexStill Life From Angry Heads With Skyward EyesStory of the Year Page AvenueSturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds In Country MusicSum 41 Does This Look Infected?Sum 41 Heaven :x: HellSunny Day Real Estate How It Feels To Be Something OnSunny Day Real Estate Sunny Day Real EstateSuperheaven JarSwans The SeerTaking Back Sunday New AgainTally Hall Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical MuseumTame Impala InnerspeakerTame Impala LonerismTaylor Swift ReputationReputation has a sleek pop sound to it following after 1989, and while it was initially disappointing with its sort of a darker shtick, it's grown on me.Taylor Swift LoverBetter than Reputation for me, but it still has its share of things like that album that keep it from being as good her previous work. Overall there are some good cuts here and there, it's just a bit too bloated with stuff that could have been cut.Taylor Swift EvermoreTaylor Swift The Tortured Poets DepartmentTears for Fears Songs from the Big ChairTeenage Wrist Chrome Neon JesusTeenage Wrist Earth Is A Black HoleThank You Scientist TerraformerThe Academy Is... Fast Times at Barrington HighThe Ataris So Long, AstoriaThe Avalanches Since I Left YouThe Avett Brothers EmotionalismThe Brave Little Abacus Masked DancersThe Brave Little Abacus Just Got Back from the Discomfort...The Callous Daoboys Celebrity TherapistThe Caretaker Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 1The Caretaker Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 2The Caretaker Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 3The Caretaker Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 4The Cranberries Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?The Cure Seventeen SecondsThe Cure FaithThe Dangerous Summer Golden RecordThe Dangerous Summer The Dangerous SummerThe Dangerous Summer Mother NatureThe Dear Hunter OrangeSimilar to Red, but with more of a bluesy-rock sound. The fuzzy guitars, and guitar work here make for a better listen, and the solos here are fantastic.The Dear Hunter YellowA sunny tone, bright guitars, cheery vocals, and a touch of The Beatles and Beach Boys influence. The Yellow EP quite accurately captures the feel and sound of a summer's day at the beach or boardwalk.The Dear Hunter BlueThe color that has grown on me; I just don't find myself drawn to it like I do with the other colors. It's a pleasant, calm, and somber listen that I have to be in the right mood to listen to.The Dear Hunter WhiteSonically it has a light and graceful feeling. Lyrically it's the most transparent Casey has been with things like faith, belief, and existentialism.The Dear Hunter All Is As All Should BeA small collection of solid songs that will scratch the itch for fans of the band wanting more content.The Dear Hunter AntimaiThe Dillinger Escape Plan Calculating InfinityThe Dillinger Escape Plan Ire WorksThe Dismemberment Plan Emergency & IThe Fiery Furnaces Blueberry BoatThe Format Dog ProblemsThe Gaslight Anthem American SlangThe Gaslight Anthem HandwrittenThe Gaslight Anthem History BooksThe Go-Go's Beauty and the BeatThe Gospel Youth Always LoseThe Hotelier GoodnessOn initial listen Goodness sounds like a different album from Home, Like NoPlace Is There, the difference being that it seemingly feels less immediate. The instrumentation feels softer, songs are drawn out with quiet and silent moments with interludes in between, and the lyrics are veiled. A bit of contrast from Home. Those expecting a sequel to Home may be underwhelmed at first (like myself), but give it time. It's the type of album that requires time to grow and breathe. As vocalist, Holden said himself, "This isn't Home #2, this is a transition. You have to find a way out... You can't live in anguish your whole life."The Killers Hot FussThe Killers Sam's TownThe Killers Pressure MachineThe Maine Forever HalloweenThe Maine American CandyThe Maine Lovely Little LonelyA good blend of the upbeat sound of American Candy and the more moody tones of Forever Halloween.The Menzingers Chamberlain WaitsThe Menzingers On the Impossible PastThe National The NationalHonestly not too much of a far cry from their later material. It's got the elements that The National are known for and there are definitely good moments here, but it just doesn't quite hit the highs that the band would later reach. Not immediately memorable, but then again I've felt that way about all of The National's albums initially. Eventually they all grew on me with repeated listens.The National Sad Songs for Dirty LoversA step in the right direction and a transition for The National's evolution as a band.The National I Am Easy to FindThe National First Two Pages of FrankensteinThe National Laugh TrackThe Ocean HoloceneThe Postal Service Give UpIf Death Cab went for a more electronic direction. Ben Gibbard's vocals and the instrumentals sound fresh initially, but as the album plays on it starts to wear off at moments. A pleasant and mellow album with some great standout tracks while others feel like rehashes of one another. It's too bad this project wasn't further explored.The Promise Ring Nothing Feels GoodThe Republic of Wolves The CartographerThe Republic of Wolves His Black TeethThe Smile A Light For Attracting AttentionThe Sound of Animals Fighting Tiger and the Duke (Re-Issue)The Strokes The New AbnormalThe Swellers Ups and DownsizingThe Swellers Good For MeThe Used The UsedThe Weakerthans FallowThe Weeknd After HoursThe Wonder Years Get Stoked on It!The World Is a Beautiful Place... Always ForeignThe Wrens The MeadowlandsThere For Tomorrow There For TomorrowThere For Tomorrow were a band that seemed better in small doses rather than full length albums, and this EP is a great condensed release of what the band was capable of.This Heat DeceitThrice Identity CrisisNot a bad debut by any means, but it's just overshadowed a lot by Thrice's tremendous discography.Thrice PalmsThrice The Artist in the Ambulance (Revisited)Thursday War All the TimeThursday Full CollapseThursday A City By the Light DividedThursday Common ExistenceThursday No DevolucionTigers Jaw Tigers JawTigers Jaw I Won't Care How You Remember MeTiny Skulls Songs From Some Depressing MovieToby Fox Deltarune Chapter 1 OSTTom Waits Small ChangeTomberlin i don’t know who needs to hear this...Tonight Alive What Are You So Scared Of?Too Close to Touch Haven't Been MyselfI wasn't expecting to like this as much as I do, but I like this just as much as their debut (which was a surprise to me too). All the things they did well on "Nerve Endings" are displayed here with even a bit more energy and passion. The music is heftier, and Keaton Pierce's vocals are just as great with some vicious screams. Like I mentioned on their debut, this won't change others' minds on the genre, but for fans this packs quite the punch.Touche Amore ...To the Beat of a Dead HorseTouche Amore LamentTransit Keep This To YourselfTransit Young New EnglandTransit JoyrideTrivium In the Court of the DragonTrophy Eyes Chemical MiracleTurnover MagnoliaTurnstile Glow OnTURQUOISEDEATH Se BuenoTV on the Radio Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty BabesTV on the Radio Return to Cookie MountainTV on the Radio Nine Types of LightTV on the Radio SeedsTwenty One Pilots Twenty One PilotsTwenty One Pilots Regional At BestTwenty One Pilots BlurryfaceAlbum was so overplayed to death from the for a long while, but it's nice to revisit this after all of that.Twenty One Pilots Scaled and IcyTyphoon (USA-OR) OfferingsUlcerate Of Fracture and FailureUnwound Fake TrainUnwound The Future of WhatUnwound UnwoundVampire Weekend Vampire WeekendVampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the CityVersaEmerge PerceptionsVersaEmerge VersaEmergeVersaEmerge took theatrical strings and subtle electronic elements and mixed it to create their brand of "mystical" alternative rock. A great EP that displayed a lot of potential for a growing band at the time.VersaEmerge Cities Built on SandVersaEmerge Fixed at ZeroFixed at Zero follows and expands the sound of VersaEmerge's style of theatrical alternative rock (ala Tim Burton-esque music mixed with pop rock). The album has a mystical and even mysterious feel to it that stands out in the genre. Along with the magical music, singer, Sierra Kusterbeck matches the tone of each song with great and strong vocals. It's too bad that after finding their footing the band never continued with this sound.Waxahatchee Saint CloudWe Were Promised Jetpacks These Four WallsWeezer MaladroitWeezer The Green AlbumWeezer Everything Will Be Alright in the EndWeezer The White AlbumNever would have thought we'd get an album like this from Weezer again. A fun surprise calling back to Weezer's heydays. Hopefully a sign of more to come, and not just a fluke. Weezer OK HumanWestelaken The Golden Days are HardWeyes Blood Titanic RisingWhimper I Heard You The First Timewhyohwhy BruisesWolf Alice My Love Is CoolYeah Yeah Yeahs It's Blitz!Yellow Magic Orchestra Yellow Magic OrchestraYellowcard UnderdogAlong the same lines of "One For The Kids" if not a slight improvement.Yellowcard When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes AcousticRather than being just an acoustic guitar and Ryan Key singing on this, these are well-done and "full sounding" acoustic versions of the songs. They manage to maintain the quality of the songs just with a different medium of sound. The acoustic sound highlights and actually lends itself to the slower and more emotional aspects of the album giving the violin and subtle aspects to shine through.Yellowcard Ocean Avenue (Acoustic)Much like the acoustic version of When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes, Yellowcard bring a subdued and different tone to Ocean Avenue. It feels refreshing to hear these songs re-done to allow other elements to have more focus. The only thing is that Ryan Key's vocals don't sound as strong at moments. Other than that this a strong acoustic album and a fun return to Ocean Avenue.Yellowcard and Hammock A Hopeful SignYeule softscarsYo La Tengo And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside...Zach Bryan American HeartbreakZutomayo Hisohiso banashi (潜潜話)3.5 greatA Day To Remember What Separates Me from YouAll Time Low Put Up or Shut UpAn EP of straightforward pop punk that doesn't innovate or take away.All Time Low So Wrong, It's RightPoppy pop punk/pop rock with hooky choruses. All Time Low always seemed like a band that did better with shorter releases rather than full length albums. For what it's worth, they do pretty well at what they do for the most part.All Time Low Nothing PersonalI know people bag on this album, but I honestly don't get the hate it gets from fans. It's really not as bad as some make it out to be. Sure everything is produced a tad too much like Alex's vocals, but it's still enjoyably fun and catchy. It is what it is, and it's a good continuation of their poppy pop punk.Alvvays AlvvaysAlvvays AntisocialitesAriana Grande Dangerous WomanBand-Maid Maid in JapanBleachers Gone NowWasn't quite sure at first how to feel about this, but I think it's a great follow-up to what he did on Strange Desire. It's a lot more subtle and less bombastic than Strange Desire may have been, but there's definite good to be found here. On a side note there were even moments that reminded me of Some Nights which for me is a good thing.blink-182 Cheshire Catblink-182 Dude Ranchblink-182 Buddhablink-182 NeighborhoodsFound this to be kind of forgetable initially and was a bit disappointed. Eventually it grew on me, and while it's not amazing it is enjoyable overall. There are good songs and moments, but there are also some skippable ones. It's too bad it took a lot to bring the band together, and that they only showed hints of what they could have been capable of only to lose one of their key members yet again.blink-182 One More Time...Bloc Party HymnsBloc Party loses two of its core members resulting in an album that is devoid of the energy or qualities found on the band's previous releases. Hymns is a much more subdued and slowed down album. Not terrible, just a bit disappointing.Bloc Party Alpha GamesBomb the Music Industry! To Leave or Die in Long IslandBomb the Music Industry! Goodbye Cool World!Bomb the Music Industry! Get WarmerBoygenius boygeniusBoys Like Girls Boys Like GirlsCarly Rae Jepsen Emotion: Side BI quite enjoyed Emotion so I was eager to listen for more material from Ms. Jepsen especially after hearing that she had composed 250 songs throughout writing and recording that album. These B-sides fit perfectly with the sound and tone that she established on Emotion, unfortunately it's a little lackluster lyrically in some spots. Not that Emotion had amazing lyrics, but it never detracted from the music for me. Nevertheless it's a pleasant little addition to the 80s-tinged tones of Emotion.Chevelle Point #1Creeper Eternity, In Your ArmsA nice debut from a band that has promise to create something really great one day.Crochet Birth PieceDeath Cab for Cutie Something About AirplanesDeftones AdrenalineDryjacket For PosterityFair to Midland The Carbon Copy Silver LiningFall Out Boy Save Rock and RollNot as bad as some make it out to be. There are enjoyable and catchy songs, but there are just some of the things that bog this album down. While the songs are poppy and catchy enough with big choruses, there's just something commercial about it all.Fall Out Boy American Beauty/American PsychoFall Out Boy follow the same direction as Save Rock and Roll with a follow up with even more of a modern pop flair. American Beauty/American Psycho is probably guilty of having the same qualities as SR&R. The songs show more variation this time around, and the songs are consistently more interesting. While it still doesn't sound like a proper "band record" and resembles something more like a solo project from Patrick, it's still an enjoyable modern pop album.Forever the Sickest Kids Underdog Alma MaterFun, catchy, albeit a bit childish, but still enjoyable to give a spin every now and then.Green Day NimrodGreen Day InsomniacGreen Day KerplunkGreen Day 39/SmoothHarry Styles Harry StylesHellogoodbye Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!Hop Along Freshman YearI the Mighty Where the Mind Wants to Go / Where You Let it GoJapanese Breakfast PsychopompJapanese Breakfast Soft Sounds From Another PlanetJetty Bones Push BackJimmy Eat World Static PrevailsKacey Musgraves Same Trailer Different ParkKanye West Jesus Is KingKnuckle Puck ShapeshifterKnuckle Puck 20/20Let's Eat Grandma I'm All EarsLights The ListeningLights Skin and EarthLinkin Park A Thousand SunsLinkin Park's most experimental album. While I commend them for trying new things, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. A Thousand Suns is meant to be listened to as a whole as evidenced by having a number of interludes in between the main songs, and therein lies the album's weakness. While there are enjoyable moments as a whole, listening to a majority of these songs alone and out of context makes them feel weaker. That being said, it still has interesting elements that make for some good moments throughout its runtime. Linkin Park Living ThingsA return to a more simplified style and pop-ish sound focusing on vocal hooks and big choruses. Also while they aren't strangers to electronic elements there is a definite electronic-influenced sound present. Is it the best thing they've done? No, but at this point in their career all I wanted out of a Linkin Park album was hearing Chester and Mike together with some interesting instrumental work; Living Things covers that fairly well.Linkin Park One More Light"Who cares if one more light goes out? / Well I do" Rest in peace, Chester.Lucy Dacus No BurdenLucy Dacus HistorianMan with a Mission Mash Up the WorldMan with a Mission Man with a MissionManchester Orchestra HopeAcoustic version/soft reworking of Cope. While it's nice to explore the different side of these songs, it works for some songs, but not all. If they could take the best takes and elements of Cope and Hope, it'd make for a more "balanced" Manchester Orchestra album.Metric Old World Underground, Where Are You NowMetric Grow Up and Blow AwayMetric SyntheticaMetric Pagans In VegasMetric Art of DoubtmewithoutYou Pale Horses: AppendixMinus the Bear Infinity OverheadMinus the Bear VOIDSModern Baseball SportsModern Baseball You’re Gonna Miss It AllModern Baseball Holy GhostModest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even SankModest Mouse Strangers to OurselvesMotion City Soundtrack Panic StationsA return for Motion City Soundtrack to their loud and energetic sound reminiscent to Commit This To Memory. While there are some great contenders as strong new songs for the band, there are also some that don't stand up the same. "Anything At All" is a fantastic opener highlighting the fast-paced energy the band has been known for, and the closer "Days Will Go By" shows the emotional side of the band and is a fitting song for them to go off with. While the album as a whole is a bit mixed, the band manage to maintain their energetic tone through the whole thing. Unfortunately it's sad to hear of them putting an end to the band, but it was good to hear MCS give it one last go.Muse The ResistanceI was a huge fan of Muse prior to this album, but this album killed my interest in them. The songs lack any real substance, sounding nice on initial listen, but lacking any sort of replay value. Muse sound like a bit of an overblown but empty spectacle here.Mutemath ArmisticeNational Product LunaLocal band from me! They actually remind me of earlier Anberlin in sound with some strong alternative rock songs throughout this album. It's a shame that they never released anything beyond this.Neck Deep Wishful ThinkingNeck Deep The Peace And The PanicAbout on par with Life's Not Out to Get You. They still have a fun sound similar to that album while trying to expand their sound to different things.New Found Glory Sticks and StonesNew Found Glory New Found GloryNothing But Thieves Nothing But ThievesPanic! at the Disco Pray for the WickedThe Brendon Urie solo show continues on where Death of a Bachelor left off. It's what you can expect from Panic! at this point which is either good or bad depending on how you feel about the band. Panic! at the Disco Viva Las VengeanceParamore This Is WhyPerma Two Of A CrimePierce the Veil The Jaws of LifePolyphia MusePolyphia RenaissancePVRIS All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of HellA good evolution to their sound from White Noise. The songs still have some great vocal hooks with more atmospheric instrumentals this time around.Radiohead Pablo HoneyFar from being terrible, but it's just not as memorable and remarkable as the rest of their discography. While it can be an enjoyable listen, it's not an album I feel very inclined to go back to that often.Regina Spektor 11:11Royal Blood Royal BloodWas impressed when I found out it was just a duo a bassist and drummer; however, that kind of washed off a bit. It's a good debut, but most of the songs sound more or the less the same after a while.Royal Blood How Did We Get So Dark?Honestly nowhere near as bad as some people are making it out to be. Enjoyed this on about the same level as their debut.Sam Tsui Make It UpSam Tsui is a very talented musical artist that has shown his abilities through his covers and mash ups on Youtube, and here with his debut album he delivers with a great pop record. He has a fantastic voice and he displays it quite well throughout this record with fun and upbeat tunes and also with more emotional and slower songs. While it's nothing particularly revolutionary, it doesn't have to be to be a fun and fresh listen.Sam Tsui TrustSay Anything All My Friends Are EnemiesSome good stuff and some unpolished stuff. It's rough, but there's something endearing about listening to an awkward, young Max Bemis.Say Anything I Don't Think It IsStrange how a post-drugs, now-married with children Max Bemis could release a more whacked-out album than his past self could have ever thought of. Definitely the most unconventional and experimental Say Anything has ever sounded. While initially abrasive in sound there's more to discover with further listens. Instrumentally it's actually great, but what makes this a challenging listen is the lower production and Bemis's performance. He's as passionate and energetic as ever, but he prefers more of a shouting vocal delivery rather than singing which doesn't always work. Along with this the improvised lyrics are gibberish and a bit nonsensical. Max set out to destroy any notion of feeling blase about music, and he does succeed in that sense with an unorthodox album. It's not as instantly likable or gratifying as other Say Anything albums, but it has its moments. Definitely the most divisive album Say Anything has released to date, and they've released their share of albums that have split fans.Say Anything Oliver AppropriateFor a while it felt like there was a disconnect for me with Say Anything's recent outputs. I was not drawn to it nearly as much their first few albums, and I had begun to lose interest and distance myself a bit. I heard word of a new SA album and read the lengthy letter Max wrote up. The prospect of a sequel to Is a Real Boy immediately grabbed my attention, and I waited with cautious optimism. What I found was initially underwhelming, however, I came back to it and gave it repeated listens. It also caused me to revisit SA's discography old and recent, and I found myself gaining a better appreciation for it all. While I couldn't wholly relate to Max's new content, I developed empathy for his struggle with drugs, alcohol, and sexuality. I had rose-colored glasses and thought that things were well for Max after being married and starting a family, but I was mistaken. In a strange way, Oliver Appropriate is that silver lining after all the terrible things. It says, "Hey at least things didn't turn out that way," and shows how good things have actually been. The album is rough at points and isn't without its flaws, but to me it has retextured Say Anything for me. Maybe it's the context that we nearly lost Max in the process of writing this album, or him subsequently putting an end to Say Anything indefinitely. Maybe it was reflecting how impactful SA's music has been to me. Whatever it is, thanks, Max; it's been quite the ride.Shiny Toy Guns We Are PilotsSpring 2005 Ellie KemperSt. Vincent MasseductionA somewhat inconsistent album with nice highlights and good moments spread throughout. Also that's some rather unappealing album artwork.State Champs Kings of the New AgeSum 41 All Killer No FillerSum 41 Underclass HeroSum 41 Screaming Bloody MurderSum 41 13 VoicesTaking Back Sunday Taking Back SundayTaking Back Sunday Happiness IsTaking Back Sunday Tidal WaveIt's been a while since I was into Taking Back Sunday, and unfortunately this doesn't rekindle any of my interest in them again. That's not to say this is bad, but it just doesn't do much for me. Nice to hear they're still kicking this far into their career though.Taylor Swift Taylor SwiftThe 1975 The 1975Some great catchy pop songs and singles mixed in with songs that are rather forgettable.The 1975 I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of ItIt is a bit lengthy and could have been trimmed down with a few passable tracks, but otherwise this is incredibly catchy with its ambient tones mixed with 80's-influenced grooves.The All-American Rejects Move AlongAdmittedly their best album. Straightforward radio pop rock with a handful of singles that received a lot of airplay. This is one of the first albums I listened to and enjoyed from beginning to end. While it is a pretty consistent album it's fallen out of favor with me a little over time.The Cure Three Imaginary BoysThe Gaslight Anthem Get HurtThe Killers Day & AgeThe Last Dinner Party Prelude to EcstasyThe Maine Can't Stop, Won't StopThe Maine PioneerThe Maine You Are OKThe Menzingers A Lesson in the Abuse of Information TechnologyThe National Cherry TreeA nice little collection of songs for The National's upswing.There For Tomorrow A Little FasterThere For Tomorrow take the vocals from pop punk/pop rock and mix it with "heavier and moodier" alternative rock musical elements. Just a bit too repetitive as a lot of the songs follow the same formula, and sound too similar after a while.Thursday WaitingTigers Jaw spinTim Hecker No HighsTokenai Namae Time Machine ga Kowareru Mae niTokenai Namae Seifuku Kanro ClubTransit This Will Not Define UsTurnover Good NatureIt drifts like a pleasant dream, but just like a dream it can be difficult to recall and really remember.VersaEmerge Another Atmosphere PreviewA new direction for the band into distorted electronic, space pop rock. I prefer the fantasy-like sound they had prior, but this was an interesting shift. It definitely feels less like a band and more like an individual project which makes sense given it was just Blake and Sierra at the time. I would have liked to been able to hear how this album sounded like in its entirety, but sadly it wasn't released.VersaEmerge Live AcousticVinyl Theatre OrigamiWeezer Make BelieveWeezer The Red AlbumWeezer HurleyWolf Alice Visions of a LifeYou Me At Six Take Off Your ColoursYou Me At Six Hold Me Down3.0 goodAll Time Low Future HeartsA bit of a disappointing follow up to the excellent Don't Panic. While not a bad album most of it sounds like something the band has done before and done better on other releases. The best moments are when All Time Low tries something new, but it just feels stale at moments lacking the punch that the songs should have. Overall it's sonically more akin to Dirty Work albeit a bit better. All Time Low Last Young RenegadePretty inoffensively catch stuff. Not a completely new sound for them, but it fits for what they do.blink-182 CaliforniaCalifornia brings back the simplified, summery pop punk, radio-friendly sound. It doesn't reinvent, but does it need to? Would love to hear the band take things further into a more evolved sound, but for now this is a refreshing and fun listen.blink-182 NineBomb the Music Industry! Album Minus BandFall Out Boy M A N I AI actually liked some cuts from SR&R and AB/AP, but found this to be a level below those. Patrick's got a great voice, but here it's just too much. Everything is just too loud and bombastic in all the wrong ways.Grimes Art AngelsI See Stars 3DOne of the scene post-hardcore bands that pulled off a fairly enjoyable album. The electronic music mixed in and vocals might come across as gimmicky, but it works for the most part. "Catchy" post hardcore.Imagine Dragons Night VisionsJarrod Alonge Beating a Dead HorseA fun and hilarious parody album. With the collection of songs here, Jarrod Alonge is able to tackle many of the clich?s in the genres found at your local Hot Topic. From pop punk to metalcore to hardcore to indie rock to crunkcore. Alonge captures each genre and style perfectly that most of the songs would fit inconspicuously in the genres that they?re parodying. Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat WorldKanye West yeMuse The 2nd LawI take it back, this is the most overblown Muse has sounded. They bring back their rock elements, but also thrown into the mix are way over-the-top instrumentals, electronic influences, and even absolutely unnecessary dubstep. While The Resistance was bland and shallow sounding, The 2nd Law is packed and overloaded in a bad way. Matthew Bellamy obnoxiously flaunts his voice all over the place, and it's too much and off-putting. Never before have I been tempted to just shut off the music with Muse playing. There are things to like here (more so than with The Resistance), but unfortunately Muse are still into overindulging in themselves. This would be higher if it just wasn't so overbearing and messy in its sound and nature. The 2nd Law manages to be better than The Resistance in some ways while still managing to be just as bad.Muse DronesPowerspace The Kicks of PassionAmong the wave of Fueled By Ramen bands came Powerspace that never really stood out in the crowd. In their time they only released one album that didn't receive much attention. Despite this their debut album was a fun listen of electronic power pop/pop rock. There are some cheesy synths and vocals here and there, but it's harmless fun overall. It's a shame they called it quits right before releasing a new album that was apparently finished.Sleeping With Sirens Let's Cheers to ThisSt. Vincent Daddy's HomeTaking Back Sunday 152The All-American Rejects The All-American RejectsAnother band from my youth that I've fallen out with over time. Simple radio pop rock that can be a bit enjoyable but cheesy from time to time on this album.The Band CAMINO My Thoughts on YouSounds like a blend somewhere between The 1975 and Walk the Moon (and other similar bands). A short EP, but there are hints of promise for a potentially great band.The Cab Whisper WarPoppy rock with soulful vocals that's catchy and inoffensively enjoyable.The Maine Black & WhiteThe Starting Line Based on a True StoryThe Starting Line DirectionThe Young Veins Take a Vacation!Two Tongues Two TonguesMax Bemis and Chris Conley work together to make a bit of a subpar album for both artists. Both have put out better music than what's here, but there are some good songs among some filler. Max and Chris's voices complement each other, and the guitars, bass, and drums sound good for the most part. It'd be great to hear more from this project with a bit more focus and inspiration.VersaEmerge NeonApparently songs from their unreleased second full-length much like the Another Atmosphere Preview. Where those songs had a bit of rock influence, these have more of a electronic pop and spacey feel to them. They follow the same mid-tempo beat and aren't as immediately engaging as their other material. Still they're solid pop songs, but it's too bad the band's activity deteriorated with this and their previous EP that they eventually just called it quits.Wasted Space like summer, but colderWaterparks Double DareIt's catchy and far from being terrible, but it does come across as a run-of-the-mill pop rock album.Weezer RaditudeWeezer Pacific DaydreamWeezer The Black AlbumWeezer The Teal AlbumWeezer Van Weezer2.5 averageAdele 21All Time Low Dirty WorkAll Time Low never showed any real signs of changing, and seemed perfectly content with what they were doing. The problem with that is that it eventually led to this average and bland album. Dirty Work feels lazy with songs that have catchy, but empty hooks and lackluster lyrics. There's some good here, but for the most part it's weighed down by the bad. It's skippable and forgettable.Boys Like Girls Love DrunkCute Is What We Aim For Same Old Blood Rush With A New TouchA band that I enjoyed in my youth that has not held well over time. It's inoffensive pop rock, but it's also a little too basic.Cute Is What We Aim For RotationLike the album title suggests, this is a continuing cycle of what was done on their debut. Not bad, but not particularly good either. Just somewhere in the middle.Ice Nine Kills The Silver ScreamIce Nine Kills The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to HorrorwoodIcon For Hire ScriptedI feel like this would be a band and album I would enjoy, but maybe I've outgrown this type of thing. Something about it just rubs me the wrong way. Instrumentally it's not too bad and the vocalist sounds good at moments, but overall it feels too much like they're trying too hard to appeal to the teeny goth or emo/Hot Topic crowd.Lady Gaga The FameLady Gaga The Fame MonsterLana Del Rey Lana Del Ray a.k.a Lizzy GrantLana Del Rey Born to DieLana Del Rey UltraviolenceLana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell!Neck Deep All Distortions Are IntentionalOwl City Ocean EyesAdmittedly a guilty pleasure of mine, but screw it. I'D LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF BELIEEEEEEVEPhantom Planet Raise The DeadThe first few songs are great, but the album then dips off into forgettable territory. It just lacks the good qualities that the beginning has which makes for a overall tiresome album.Relient K Air For FreeWhile I'm not very familiar with Relient K's material (I do enjoy MMHMM and FANSD) I was looking forward to listening to this. I had heard good things from others about it so I good expectations for it. That being said I was disappointed. None of the songs really grabbed my attention and left little replay value. I like how the songs sound, but I don't like the actual songs themselves if that makes any sense. There are nice sounding elements, but unfortunately it all never really adds up to much. Sleeping With Sirens With Ears to See and Eyes to HearSleeping With Sirens FeelSleeping With Sirens MadnessTwo Tongues Two Tongues TwoWell I guess this shows that I Don't Think It Is wasn't an accident.2.0 poorAdele 25Duffy RockferryEd Sheeran ÷Hawthorne Heights Fragile FutureThe only album I ever listened to from these guys, and I don't know why.Icon For Hire Icon for Hire"Edgy on Purpose" the band. This one just feels like they're really just trying too hard with the incorporated rapping and gimmicky elements. At least their first album felt a bit inoffensive, but it all just went downhill.Imagine Dragons Smoke + MirrorsLady Gaga Born This WayLana Del Rey HoneymoonLana Del Rey Lust For LifeMetro Station Metro StationI recognize this is very cheesy electro pop aimed toward teenage girls, but whatever. It's catchy and I still sort of enjoy it as a guilty pleasure. I recognize it's not all that great, but honestly it's not that bad either.Olivia Rodrigo SourOlivia Rodrigo GutsOwl City All Things Bright And BeautifulAs much as Ocean Eyes was a guilty pleasure, this was a misstep. This turned me off from listening any further.The All-American Rejects When the World Comes DownThe All-American Rejects were a band I grew up with that I enjoyed, but this was the album that made me more or less grow out of liking them. Around when this album was released was the time in my life I was starting to branch out to listening to other bands and genres of music, and while my music interests were growing AAR didn't do the same. That former interest has diminished to a childhood memory and band that has only been looked at, but never returned to. Probably my first ever disappointment in a new album.We The Kings We The KingsCheesy pop rock from my youth that I could never get back into.Yellowcard Where We StandThank goodness for Ryan Key eventually taking over. [2]Yellowcard Midget TossingThank goodness for Ryan Key eventually taking over.1.5 very poor5 Seconds of Summer Sounds Good Feels GoodThe Busted, Jonas Brothers, etc. (take your pick of a mainstream power pop band) of this generation.Alessia Cara Know-It-AllBruno Mars 24K MagicUptown Funk: The Album. Instrumentally it sounds like something I would enjoy; it's just Bruno Mars himself that I cannot bring myself to like.Corey Feldman Angelic 2 The CoreGorillaz HumanzIcon For Hire You Can't Kill UsA good portion of the electronic instrumentation really takes away from the songs, and Ariel's voice can be good, but she relies too much on her fast-paced speaking, rap-like vocals.Imagine Dragons ƎVOLVEImagine Dragons OriginsJonas Brothers Happiness Beginslovelytheband Finding It Hard to SmileMaroon 5 VMiley Cyrus BangerzPink I'm Not DeadPink FunhouseSleeping With Sirens GossipThirty Seconds to Mars America1.0 awful100 Gecs 10,000 gecs5 Seconds of Summer Youngblood5 Seconds of Summer CalmAJR The ClickAJR Living RoomAJR NeotheaterAJR OK OrchestraAJR The Maybe ManAvril Lavigne Avril LavigneAvril Lavigne Head Above WaterBeyonce I Am... Sasha FierceBig Sean Dark Sky ParadiseBillie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?Billie Eilish Happier Than EverBillie Eilish Hit Me Hard and SoftBruno Mars Doo-Wops & HooligansI don't consider Bruno Mars an untalented musical artist, but it really fails to show through his music. He can sing, but most of the time he sounds like he's pushing too hard to be in a range he shouldn't be in. Bruno Mars Unorthodox JukeboxWhile there are some "improvements" Bruno Mars just isn't an artist that appeals to me.BryanStars Follow Your DreamsBryanStars Picture PerfectCamila Cabello CamilaCamila Cabello RomanceEd Sheeran No. 6 Collaborations ProjectFergie The DutchessFetty Wap Fetty WapFifth Harmony 7/27Flobots Fight with ToolsG-Eazy When It's Dark Outgnash usGrace VanderWaal Just the BeginningGreen Day Father of All MotherfuckersGwen Stefani The Sweet EscapeHalsey BadlandsFrom the stale instrumentals to the singing this is boring and uninteresting. There's barely any variation in her vocals and all the songs follow the same mid tempo beat. Its appeal is the angsty, "edgy," and pseudo-deep lyrics and sound. It just feels like it panders a bit to her fans who eat up every little thing she does as totally "original" content. She has potential, but this doesn't show it.Halsey hopeless fountain kingdomHalsey ManicHalsey If I Can’t Have Love, I Want PowerIce Spice Like..?Iggy Azalea The New ClassicJacob Sartorius Last TextKid gets "famous" from lip-syncing and then gets signed to a record label. ???Jake Paul and Team 10 LitmasJames Blunt Back To BedlamJason Mraz We Sing, We Dance, We Steal ThingsJuice WRLD Goodbye & Good RiddanceJuice WRLD Death Race For LoveJuice WRLD Legends Never DieJustin Bieber My World 2.0Justin Bieber BelieveJustin Bieber PurposeJustin Bieber ChangesJustin Bieber JusticeLil Nas X MonteroLukas Graham Lukas Graham (Blue Album)Just giving it a 1 for all the times I've had to sit through listening to 7 Years.MAGIC! Don't Kill the MagicMAGIC! do well enough to kill the magic themselves with their obnoxious songs filled with awful lyrics and grating vocals.Maneskin Teatro d'ira - Vol. IManeskin Rush!Mark Ronson Uptown SpecialMaroon 5 Red Pill BluesMegan Thee Stallion Good NewsMegan Thee Stallion TraumazineMeghan Trainor TitleWhile there is nothing inherently wrong with the throwback sound of the music, the main problem here is Meghan Trainor herself. The way she presents herself comes across as hypocritical and annoying. She promotes loving yourself and larger body types, but at the same time she puts down those that are skinny. For someone who seems like she'd want to come across as a strong independent woman she still sings about needing guys which makes her come across as clingy. She gives a list of things and demands to do in order to get her "love" as if she were just an object. She also seems to promote feminism, but she does so by putting down men and even falling into sexist cliches on both men and women. Ironically in an attempt to create some sort of unique statement, Meghan Trainor ended up instead with a trite and obnoxious collection of songs.Meghan Trainor Thank YouThe only thing I could positively say partially about her previous album was the old throwback sound she was trying to go for, but now that's gone. Didn't think she could do worse.Meghan Trainor Treat MyselfMeghan Trainor Takin' It BackMiley Cyrus The Time of Our LivesMiley Cyrus Miley Cyrus and Her Dead PetzHow can this have a higher overall rating than the rest of her albums? This is her absolute worst, and just when it seemed she couldn't sink any lower. The glittery vomit cover suits it well.Nickelback All the Right ReasonsNo Doubt Tragic KingdomOliver Tree Ugly Is BeautifulOliver Tree Cowboy TearsOliver Tree Alone in a CrowdOmi Me 4 UPink Greatest Hits... So Far!!!Post Malone Hollywood's BleedingRae Sremmurd SremmLife 2Sean Kingston Sean KingstonSilk Sonic An Evening with Silk SonicSoundtrack (Theatre) The Book of MormonThe Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)I'm generally okay with the music my dad listens to, but I never understood how or why he listens to Boom Boom Pow or I Gotta Feeling as often as he does.The Chainsmokers Memories...Do Not OpenThe Chainsmokers Sick BoyTones and I The Kids Are ComingTones and I Welcome to the MadhouseTrain Save Me San Francisco
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