Album: Black Hole Superette
Quick Thoughts: There were a ton of great rap albums out the last few weeks, but this one in particular stuck with me and not only because I'm an Aesop Rock fanboy who grades everything he does on a curve. The album's cohesive structure feels a little more the lostwave extension of Integrated Tech Solutions which is absolutely something I'm here for. No skips found.
Songs of Note: "Secret Knock," "Checkers," "Movie Night," "1010WINS," "Send Help," "John Something," "Ice Sold Here," "Bird School," "Steel Wool," "Charlie Horse," "The Red Phone"
Album: Oar On, Penelope!
Quick Thoughts: The prolific Scott McCoughey is back with the Minus 5, this time with potentially their best album in a decade. Full of great tracks and jangly indie pop, it's a return to form in all the ways that matter, and it's definitely a favorite of the year.
Songs of Note: "Words and Birds," "Death the Bludgeoner," "I Don't Want to Hate Anyone," "Bison Queen," "Burgundy Salt," "We Shall Not Be Released"
Album: Lotus
Quick Thoughts: Little Simz is slowly, quietly turning into one of the most interesting and must-listen rap artists going right now. Her brutal honesty and unique delivery lends itself to the sort of obsessive tendencies folks like Kendrick Lamar command, and each album feels like a new lore drop. Lotus plays in a few different musical sandboxes, but ends up being a truly memorable event from beginning to end. A must listen.
Songs of Note: "Thief," "Young," "Lion," "Enough," "Lotus"
Album: Magic, Alive!
Quick Thoughts: I told you this has been a great rap month. I didn't know McKinley Dixon before this week, but this is the sort of rap music I think of when I think about rap music. It's a fun, direct listen with layers, and it's easily one of the best rap albums of the year, never mind this time.
Songs of Note: "Sugar Water," "Crooked Stick," "Recitatif," "F.F.O.L.," "Magic, Alive!," "Could've Been Different"
Album: So Fed Up!
Quick Thoughts: Generally speaking, Bloodshot Bill has, up to this point, been a bit of an acquired taste. The sort of sludgey rockabilly angle is unique and certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I've found him to be more and more compelling with each release. So Fed Up! feels more polished than his previous efforts, but it doesn't lose its edge along the way - the full commitment to the sound rings true, and it makes for a really great listen. Don't miss out on this one.
Songs of Note: "Say What You Wanna Say," "Emilina," "The Very Thought of You," "What She Said"
Album: DECK: CLUBS / DIAMONDS / HEARTS / SPADES
Quick Thoughts: A magnum opus in the making, this four-album (and change, with two instrumental "jokers") release is noteworthy not only for the fact that we get 54 HTH songs, but that the album cycle isn't weighed down by fluff. Each song feels contextually essential, and Clubs and Spades both are impressively cohesive and enjoyable on their own. We love HTH here, so we come at it with some preexisting biases, but this doesn't feel like a vanity effort at all. It's just a great achievement.
Songs of Note: So many, but especially "Uncanny Valley" and "Rebuilding Year"
Album: Ready to Live a Lie
Quick Thoughts: Your favorite Nordic indie disco queen is back with another album of understated, gorgeous dance music. A cover of the Pet Shop Boys in the middle being an added surprise, it's just crazy to me that Sally Shapiro has been the best worst kept secret in indie circles for decades and she's still absolutely killing it. A mandatory listen.
Songs of Note: "Hard to Love," "Rent," "Purple Colored Sky," "Hospital," "Oh Carrie"
