Calc's Halftime
Year's half over, here's some shit I liked and some shit you hopefully haven't heard yet. I'm only going to put things this year I at least marginally enjoyed. |
| 1 |  | White Ward
Futility Report
Black Metal-
This is probably front to back my AOTY right now. I've never been a huge fan of metal and the fact that this release doesn't get drunk off it's own dissonance like a lot of black metal I've listened to by adding some very eastern European sax and throwing in some core type riffs make this a great debut. |
| 2 |  | Iglooghost
Chalk Shrine
Weeabo-dm-
Not a release but a mix and it's just masterful. Looking forward to the LP this summer but I doubt I'll enjoy it as viscerally as this. My body just moves when this is on. |
| 3 |  | He Is Legend
few
HeIsLegendcore-
Eternal lover of this band. Best guitar production of the year. |
| 4 |  | Kitsune
Uninvited
Alt/Math Rock-
Clean catchy straight up well executed alt rock, title track and "Locked Up" are amazing tracks |
| 5 |  | GoldLink
At What Cost
Hip-Hop-
I dunno why I like some hip-hop and not others but this is good for the most part. |
| 6 |  | Forest Swords
Compassion
Electronic/Ambient
Simultaneously epic and reserved, tribal and refined. Engravings was great but this is better |
| 7 |  | Nodachi
Beyond Death Beyond Reason
Emo/Post Hardcore-
One of my favorite finds of the year, the emo tag alludes to a similar sound instrumentally to circle takes the square. very well put together piece |
| 8 |  | Sithu Aye
Senpai EP II: The Noticing
Weeabo Prog-
Sithu Aye's joke-ish series returns with more anime style instrumental jams. not amazing but definitely not bad |
| 9 |  | Wovette
Steeple
Piano/experimental/electronic
either wovette has 4 arms or this is some amazing electronic music that paints with the piano rather than with the typical synths |
| 10 |  | Stolas
Stolas
Post-Hardcore
Technically proficient, Sergio is quietly one of the best guitarists in the scene right now but they overthought themselves here. just rock out next time |
| 11 |  | Jonwayne
Rap Album Two
Hip-Hop/Rap
I see and hear a white biggie, very introspective album for those who like that kinda thing |
| 12 |  | Full of Hell
Trumpeting Ecstasy
Hardcore
The short length helps my enjoyment of this album along immensely. kind of reminds me of the feeling I had when I heard KEN mode for the first time |
| 13 |  | Tigran Hamasyan
An Ancient Observer
Classical/ Piano
I love piano music, Tigran made pretty piano music 2 years ago and has done it again. nothing else to say |
| 14 |  | Blanck Mass
World Eater
Electronic/ Noise
Never heard this guy before this year but was very pleased. really like the first two tracks |
| 15 |  | Fox Capture Plan
Fragile
Math Rock
Mouse On the Keys, Toe, Fox Capture Plan, jizue and probably 20 others |
| 16 |  | L'Effondras
Les Flavescences
Post-Rock
Post-rock bores me for the most part but this french group injects a little western country flavor and comes out with an engaging piece |
| 17 |  | Your Old Droog
Packs
Hip-Hop
Nas perhaps slightly underwhelms here but his point of view is something to listen to, very refreshing take on hip-hop |
| 18 |  | PARTOUT PARTOUT
c o u c o u
Math Rock
Reminds me of early adibisi shank before lars decided to go all electronic-heavy |
| 19 |  | Fleet Foxes
Crack-Up
Folk/Post Rock
I've only heard this like twice but the nice subtle change in sound speaks to these guys as musicians |
| 20 |  | Mutoid Man
War Moans
Hardcore/Rock
Saw like 5 minutes of these guys perform while at work one time but anyways this album is eclectic without being eccentric if that makes sense and fun the entire ride |
| 21 |  | '68
Two Parts Viper
Fuzz Rock
I think about the potential these two have and cry a little inside. I get what they are trying to do but like Stolas, if these dudes just rocked out for an album holy shit.... "Life Has It's Design" is top 10 song of the year though |
| 22 |  | Algiers
The Underside of Power
Gospel/Post Punk
Comes out tomorrow but the sound is fresh, the message is powerful, and the record is great |
| 23 |  | Igorrr
Savage Sinusoid
Electronic/Metal/Classical
eclectic and eccentric, igorrr's hodgepodge of influences is wielded like a hammer and he beats you with it for a half an hour. for better or for worse (i love it) |
| 24 |  | Eidola
To Speak, To Listen
Swancore
Much more focused, technical, and overall better than their last album. and they didn't commission a bunch of fake accounts to 5 it on sputnikmusic.com like last time. If ALLB's neutered offering left a gross taste in your mouth, this heavy handed album might help. |
| 25 |  | bansheebeat
Techo Deluxe
Electronic/ Weeabo
Pleasant, but (and no offense) chalk shrine does everything this does better for me |
| 26 |  | Schammasch
The Maldoror Chants: Hermaphrodite
Black Metal
A plodding, deliberate, tribal offering, feels more like one long piece than anything I've heard this year |
| 27 |  | Others By No One
Book I: Dr. Breacher
Cheese Prog
RIYL: Native Contruct, Between the Buried and Me |
| 28 |  | Brockhampton
Saturation
Hip-Hop
Don't get the hyperbolic praise I'm seeing but this is some pretty good stuff if you haven't heard it yet |
| 29 |  | CHON
Homey
Math Rock
Dunno what to say, I've been vocal about their stagnation for years but the stagnation is still nice to listen to. |
| 30 |  | Kendrick Lamar
DAMN.
Hip/Hop/Rap
What am I gonna say really... |
| 31 |  | Blumen
Mangata
Post Rock/Classical/Prog
Primarily piano proggy stuff, has hints of Frost* at points |
| 32 |  | Buddy and Kaytranada
Ocean & Montana
Hip/Hop/Rap
Very chilled out old school west coast offering from one of Pharell's pickups. "World of Wonder" might be the smoothest jam of the year if not a little amateurish in subject matter |
| 33 |  | Critic, The Cannibal
SPEAKS
Hardcore
Nice little hardcore EP, very sparsely produced so if production is a huge thing then you may not like. |
| 34 |  | Eternity Forever
Fantasy
Funk Rock
Kurt Travis group where he does his Zelliack impersonation for a few minutes. comes and goes way too quickly but the groove is strong |
| 35 |  | Dedekind Cut
The Expanding Domain (ded005)
Ambient/Noise/Experimental
If anyone remembers Lee Bannon this is the same guy, still expanding his range and it works well here |
| 36 |  | Zavala
Fantasmas
House
Dark Time Sunshine producer making a house record. it's fantastic and that average makes me so sad right now. |
| 37 |  | Greeley Estates
Calling All The Hopeless
Metalcore
Really harkens back to a good ol time in metalcore but whether that's a good thing is up for debate. First two songs rip though |
| 38 |  | Vince Staples
Big Fish Theory
Rap/Hip-Hop
Easily hip-hop AOTY right now. I haven't heard club beats pulled off so well before and some of vince's bars on this are ace. |
| 39 |  | Envy On The Coast
Ritual
Post Hardcore/ Alt Rock
have loved the lead singer ever since I first heard him on NK (north korea) and he carries this EP. great music and greater vocals |
| 40 |  | Clams Casino
Instrumentals 4
Instrumental (s4)/ Hip-Hop
Its good, I have hundreds of hours of this chillwave hip-hip stuff though but clams casino is a cut above. |
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