A Perfect Circle - Eat the Elephant (2018)

4/5
Alt. Rock
USA (Los Angeles, CA)
stream

It's A Perfect Circle. What more can be said.

1. "Eat the Elephant" - 5:13
2. "Disillusioned" - 5:53
3. "The Contrarian" - 3:58
4. "The Doomed" - 4:41
5. "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish" - 4:26
6. "TalkTalk" - 4:15
7. "By and Down the River" - 5:04
8. "Delicious" - 3:49
9. "DLB" - 2:06
10. "Hourglass" - 5:14
11. "Feathers" - 5:48
12. "Get the Lead Out" - 6:40

Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway (2006)

4/5
Post Metal, Sludge Metal, Progressive
Sweden
buy
stream

This is one of those albums that I heard a long while ago, but one that's always stuck with me. I can't forget it. Not even if I wanted to. But, not that I would. I recommend taking this one within the confines of a dark, dark room. Thank me later.

1. "Marching to the Heartbeats" - 3:13
2. "Finland" - 10:46
3. "Back to Chapel Town" - 7:09
4. "And With Her Came the Birds" - 5:58
5. "Thirtyfour" - 10:00
6. "Dim" - 11:46
7. "Dark City, Dead Man" - 15:49

Carbon Based Lifeforms - Hydroponic Garden (2003)

4/5
Ambient Electronica, Downtempo
Sweden
buy

This album is best defined by one word: smooth. That's the best I can come to describing it, really. It flows quite well. For fans of Boards of Canada and the like. I've listened to it on DXM and I highly recommend it. I got lost.

01. "Central Plains" - 8:08
02. "Tensor" - 5:43
03. "MOS 6581" - 7:11
04. "Silent Running" - 7:05
05. "Neurotransmitter" - 7:28
06. "Hydroponic Garden" - 9:12
07. "Exosphere" - 5:05
08. "Comsat" - 7:08
09. "Epicentre" - 5:57
10. "Artificial Island" - 5:11
11. "Refraction 1.33" - 8:19

Dark Time Sunshine - Anx (2012)

4.5/5
Alternative Hip Hop
USA (Seattle, WA)
buy/stream

I stumbled upon these guys a while back with their earlier album Vessel. That was really good, but this is better. In every way. Click on that link right there and see for yourself. I recommend "Can't Wait" or "Look what the Cat Did." It's all good, though. Fantastic, even. This the most recent album I've heard that has potential to be a 5/5 record. Perhaps.

[I don't feel like putting this tracklist. Perhaps later. It's on the streaming link. You're a grown adult.]

Grimes - Visions (2012)

4/5
Electronica, pop
Canada
buy

Dreamy, pop-infused electronic beepity boppity glory.

1. "Infinite ♡ Without Fulfillment" - 1:36
2. "Genesis" - 4:15
3. "Oblivion" - 4:12
4. "Eight" - 1:48
5. "Circumambient" - 3:43
6. "Vowels = Space and Time" - 4:21
7. "Visiting Statue" - 1:59
8. "Be a Body (侘寂)" - 4:20
9. "Colour of Moonlight (Antiochus)" (featuring Doldrums) - 4:00
10. "Symphonia IX (My Wait Is U)" - 4:53
11. "Nightmusic" (featuring Majical Cloudz) - 5:03
12. "Skin" - 6:09
13. "Know the Way (Outro)" - 1:45

Forgotten Tomb - Love's Burial Ground (2004)

4/5
Black Metal
Italy
buy

Fantastic, straightforward black metal. No fancy schmancy synths or keyboards, just metal. Great riffs and excellent guitar work. Highly recommended.

1. Malus Vivendi Part I - 02:15
2. Kill Life - 08:43
3. Alone - 11:57
4. House of Nostalgia - 13:09
5. Malus Vivendi Part II (Intermezzo) - 01:04
6. Love's Burial Ground - 10:55
7. Slave to Negativity - 09:15
8. Forgotten Tomb MMIII - 05:49
9. Malus Vivendi Part III (Outro) - 02:02

Japandroids - Celebration Rock (2012)

4/5
Garage Rock
Canada

Another winner from Japandroids. I passed up on a chance to see these fellas again several months ago, and I'm currently kicking myself as a direct result. I hate being a broke-ass.

1. "The Nights of Wine and Roses" - 4:02
2. "Fire's Highway" - 4:44
3. "Evil's Sway" - 4:27
4. "For the Love of Ivy" (The Gun Club cover) - 4:13
5. "Adrenaline Nightshift" - 4:26
6. "Younger Us" - 3:33
7. "The House That Heaven Built" - 4:49
8. "Continuous Thunder" - 4:59

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2010)

4.5/5
Hip Hop
USA (Savannah, Georgia)
download

Big Boi's first solo album, and one of the most consistent flows I've heard to date. Not on just a few songs, either, but throughout every single track. Big Boi never disappoints.

[tracklist to come; lazy]

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2010)

4/5
Electronic
Canada
download

1. "Fainting Spells" 2:44
2. "Celestica" 3:48
3. "Doe Deer" 1:38
4. "Baptism" 4:13
5. "Year of Silence" 4:54
6. "Empathy" 4:11
7. "Suffocation" 4:02
8. "Violent Dreams" 4:35
9. "Vietnam" 5:08
10. "Birds" 2:31
11. "Pap Smear" 3:43
12. "Not in Love" 3:33
13. "Intimate" 4:45
14. "I Am Made of Chalk" 3:09

Cobalt - Gin (2009)

4/5
Black metal
USA (Greeley, Colorado)
download

One of my favourite black metal albums of recent memory. These guys know what they're doing. Very excellent use of feedback as a musical tool. Great drums, riffs, vocals, the whole deal. Can't go wrong.

1. "Gin" - 7:24
2. "Dry Body" - 8:54
3. "Arsonry" - 5:48
4. "Throat" - 1:58
5. "Stomach" - 6:44
6. "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" - 3:40
7. "Pregnant Insect" - 6:02
8. "Two-Thumbed Fist" - 9:57
9. "The Old Man Who Lied for His Entire Life" - 2:07
10. "A Starved Horror" - 5:12

Celeste - Morte(s) Nee(s) (2010)

4/5
Black metal, Emo
France
download

"...Morte(s) Nee(s) can best be compared to drowning away in a shallow, dirty puddle." - Sputnikmusic

Pretty fitting description, if you ask me. This album can be downloaded or streamed for free, as uploaded by the band here. Real men put out their music for free.

1. "Ces Belles de Rêve aux Verres Embués" - 3:55
2. "Les Mains Brisées comme Leurs Souvenirs" - 4:20
3. "Il y a Biens des Porcs que ça Ferait Bander de T'étouffer" - 2:02
4. "En Troupeau des Louves en Trompe l'Oeil des Agneaux" - 6:18
5. "(S)" - 5:43
6. "Un Miroir pur qui te Rend Misérable" - 6:09
7. "De Sorte que Plus Jamais un Instant ne Soit Magique" - 13:00

Weakling - Dead as Dreams (2000)

4.5/5
Black metal
USA (San Francisco, California)
download

1. "Cut Their Grain and Place Fire Therein" - 10:28
2. "Dead as Dreams" - 20:39
3. "This Entire Fucking Battlefield" - 14:47
4. "No One Can Be Called as a Man While He'll Die" - 13:09
5. "Desasters in the Sun" - 17:05

The Antlers - Hospice (2009)

5/5
Indie rock, Post-rock, Folk, Dream Pop
USA (Brooklyn, New York)
download

1. "Prologue" – 2:35
2. "Kettering" – 5:10
3. "Sylvia" – 5:27
4. "Atrophy" – 7:40
5. "Bear" – 3:54
6. "Thirteen" (vocals by Sharon Van Etten) – 3:11
7. "Two" – 5:56
8. "Shiva" – 3:45
9. "Wake" – 8:44
10. "Epilogue" – 5:25

Zmrok - Svjatlom Zaginuuszaga Dnja (2005)

3/5
Black Metal
Belarus
download

Pretty straightforward black metal. The riffs are very well composed and catchy, as well as the vocals fitting perfectly. If you like black metal, you'll like this to some degree. Not groundbreaking, but still thoroughly enjoyable.

1. "Sljady, Uhodzjaczyja u Ciemru" - 6:48
2. "Ciemrazor" - 6:17
3. "Viecznaja Scjuza" - 4:34
4. "Stogny z Nievjadomyh Virou" - 6:23
5. "Ustup" - 1:28
6. "Z Ciemraju Geta Pryhodzic..." - 3:38
7. "Duszy Svajgo Ciela Ja Prynaszu u Ahvjaru" - 5:41
8. "sila Zmroka i Bol Duszy Adziny..." - 5:59
9. "Zima..." - 5:56

Leftöver Crack - Fuck World Trade (2004)

4/5
Punk
USA (Alphabet City, Manhattan, New York City, New York)
download

This is punk.

1. "Clear Channel (Fuck Off)" – 4:14
2. "Life Is Pain" – 4:37
3. "Burn Them Prisons" – 3:15
4. "Gang Control" – 2:42 (Morning Glory cover)
5. "Super Tuesday" – 4:00
6. "Via Sin Dios" – 2:14
7. "Feed the Children (Book of Lies)" – 3:21
8. "One Dead Cop" – 3:39
9. "Ya Can't Go Home" – 3:14
10. "Rock the 40 Oz." – 2:28
11. "Soon We'll Be Dead" – 5:35
12. "Gringos Son Puercos Feos" – 3:08
13. "Operation M.O.V.E." – 10:25

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar (2009)

4/5
Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Ambient
USA (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
download

1. Magna for Annie, Josh, and Robin – 0:10
2. Secrets at the Prom – 0:42
3. Slaughter Killing Carnage (The Meaning of Words) – 2:12
4. Failure – 3:30
5. Curse Words – 1:43
6. Close Chorus – 6:24
7. Shy – 5:43
8. Lights – 0:22
9. Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs) – 4:31
10. West Philly Vocoder – 2:05
11. Evil, with Evil, Against Evil – 2:30
12. The White Witch – 3:51
13. Nitetime Rainbows – 5:31
14. Canalfish – 1:30
15. Loudly – 1:51
16. Blood White – 4:20
17. Ashes Grammar – 1:11
18. Ashes Maths – 3:23
19. Miss My Friends – 1:30
20. Starting at a Disadvantage – 4:41
21. Life's Great – 0:41
22. Headphone Space – 4:47

Sonic Youth - Sister (1987)

5/5
Alternative Rock
USA (New York City, New York)
download

1. "Schizophrenia" – 4:38
2. "(I Got A) Catholic Block" – 3:26
3. "Beauty Lies in the Eye" – 2:20
4. "Stereo Sanctity" – 3:50
5. "Pipeline/Kill Time" – 4:35
6. "Tuff Gnarl" – 3:15
7. "Pacific Coast Highway" – 4:18
8. "Hot Wire My Heart" – 3:23
9. "Cotton Crown" – 5:08
10. "White Cross" – 2:59

Four Tet - There is Love in You (2010)

4/5
Electronic
England
download

1. "Angel Echoes" - 4:00
2. "Love Cry" - 9:13
3. "Circling" - 5:18
4. "Pablo's Heart" - 0:12
5. "Sing" - 6:49
6. "This Unfolds" - 7:55
7. "Reversing" - 2:40
8. "Plastic People" - 6:34
9. "She Just Likes to Fight" - 4:34

Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me (2006)

4.5/5
Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
USA (Levittown, Long Island, New York)
download

1. "Sowing Season" - 4:31
2. "Millstone" - 4:16
3. "Jesus" - 5:18
4. "Degausser" - 5:32
5. "Limousine (MS Rebridge)" - 7:42
6. "You Won't Know" - 5:42
7. "Welcome to Bangkok" - 3:05
8. "Not the Sun" - 3:09
9. "Luca" - 5:08
10. "--" - 2:04
11. "The Archers Bows Have Broken" - 4:14
12. "Handcuffs" - 4:10

Caribou - Swim (2010)

4/5
Electronica
Canada
download

1. "Odessa" – 5:15
2. "Sun" - 5:44
3. "Kaili" - 4:41
4. "Found Out" - 3:18
5. "Bowls" - 6:20
6. "Leave House" - 5:11
7. "Hannibal" - 6:14
8. "Lalibela" - 2:25
9. "Jamelia" - 3:58

Rancid - ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)

4/5
Punk
USA (Albany, California)
download

1. "Maxwell Murder" - 1:25
2. "The 11th Hour" - 2:28
3. "Roots Radicals" - 2:47
4. "Time Bomb" - 2:24
5. "Olympia WA." - 3:30
6. "Lock, Step & Gone" - 2:25
7. "Junkie Man" - 3:04
8. "Listed M.I.A." - 2:22
9. "Ruby Soho" - 2:37
10. "Daly City Train" - 3:21
11. "Journey to the End of the East Bay" - 3:11
12. "She's Automatic" - 1:35
13. "Old Friend" - 2:53
14. "Disorder and Disarray" - 2:49
15. "The Wars End" 1:53
16. "You Don't Care Nothin'" - 2:28
17. "As Wicked" - 2:40
18. "Avenues & Alleyways" - 3:11
19. "The Way I Feel" - 2:34

Rogue Wave - Permalight (2010)

4/5
Indie Rock
USA (Oakland, California)
download

Currently one of my favorite albums. Highly recommended to all.

1. "Solitary Gun" 3:44
2. "Good Morning (The Future)" 4:10
3. "Sleepwalker" 3:46
4. "Stars and Stripes" 3:09
5. "Permalight" 3:07
6. "Fear Itself" - 4:36
7. "Right With You" - 3:16
8. "We Will Make A Song Destroy" - 3:55
9. "I'll Never Leave You" - 3:00
10. "Per Anger" 2:37
11. "You Have Boarded" - 3:57
12. "All That Remains" - 1:05

Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder (2001)

4/5
Post Rock, Ambient
Canada
download

1. "'I Will Be True...' (From Lips of Lying Dying Wonder Body #1)/Reign Rebuilder [Head]" – 2:39
2. "Vienna Arcweld/Fucked Gamelan/Rigid Tracking" – 13:45
3. "Steal Compass/Drive North/Disappear" – 6:12
4. "Wild Dogs of the Thunderbolt/'They Cannot Lock Me Up... I Am Eternally Free...' (From Lips of Lying Dying Wonder Body #2)" – 4:54
5. "Omaha" – 6:16
6. "There Is No Dance in Frequency and Balance" – 4:16
7. "Côte d'Abrahams Roomtone/'What's Going On?...' (From Lips of Lying Dying Wonder Body #3)" – 4:35
8. "Love Song for 15 Ontario (w/ Singing Police Car)" – 3:19
9. "Injur: Gutted Two-Track" – 2:49
10. "When I First Get to Phoenix" – 3:12
11. "Shit-Heap-Gloria of the New Town Planning" – 10:50
12. "Jesus/Pop" – 1:42
13. "Esquimalt Harbour" – 2:16
14. "Two Tears in a Bucket" – 3:43
15. "Fading Lights Are Fading.../Reign Rebuilder [Tail Out]" – 2:51

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works, 85-92 (1992)

4/5
Ambient Electronica
Cornwall, United Kingdom
download

1. "Xtal" – 4:54
2. "Tha" – 9:06
3. "Pulsewidth" – 3:46
4. "Ageispolis" – 5:23
5. "I" – 1:17
6. "Green Calx" – 6:05
7. "Heliosphan" – 4:51
8. "We Are the Music Makers" – 7:43
9. "Schottkey 7th Path" – 5:08
10. "Ptolemy" – 7:10
11. "Hedphelym" – 6:00
12. "Delphium" – 5:26
13. "Actium" – 7:32

Tiamat - Wildhoney (1994)

4.5/5
Gothic Metal, Progressive Metal, Doom Metal
Sweden
download

1. "Wildhoney" – 0:52
2. "Whatever That Hurts" – 5:47
3. "The Ar" – 5:03
4. "25th Floor" – 1:49
5. "Gaia" – 6:26
6. "Visionaire" – 4:19
7. "Kaleidoscope" – 1:19
8. "Do You Dream of Me?" – 5:07
9. "Planets" – 3:11
10. "A Pocket Size Sun" – 8:03

Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs (2009)

4/5
Black Metal, Shoegaze, Post-punk
France
download

1. "Gas in Veins" - 5:10
2. "Les Ruches Malades" - 4:19
3. "Heurt" - 6:01
4. "Recueillement" - 7:01
5. "Faux Semblants" - 4:21
6. "I XIII V XIX XV V XXI XVIII XIX – IX XIX – IV V I IV" - 1:41
7. "Trouble (Éveils Infâmes" - 4:49
8. "Video Girl" - 4:11
9. "La Reine Trayeuse" - 5:32
10. "Amesoeurs" - 4:03
11. "Au Crépuscule de Nos Rêves" - 11:17

The Cure - Pornography (1982)

5/5
Gothic Rock
England
download

1. "One Hundred Years" – 6:40
2. "A Short Term Effect" – 4:22
3. "The Hanging Garden" – 4:33
4. "Siamese Twins" – 5:29
5. "The Figurehead" – 6:15
6. "A Strange Day" – 5:04
7. "Cold" – 4:26
8. "Pornography" – 6:27

Burzum - Belus (2010)

4/5
Ambient Black Metal
Norway
download

1. "Leukes renkespill (Introduksjon)" - 0:33
2. "Belus' død" - 6:23
3. "Glemselens elv" - 11:54
4. "Kaimadalthas' nedstigning" - 6:43
5. "Sverddans" - 2:27
6. "Keliohesten" - 5:45
7. "Morgenrøde" - 8:54
8. "Belus' tilbakekomst (Konklusjon)" - 9:37

Common - Be (2005)

4/5
Hip Hop
USA (Chicago, Illinois)
download

1. "Be"
2. "Corners"
3. "Go"
4. "Faithful" (w/ Bilal & John Legend)
5. "Testify"
6. "Love Is..."
7. "Chi-City"
8. "The Food" (w/ Kanye West)
9. "Real People"
10. "They Say" (w/ Kanye & John Legend)
11. "It’s Your World/Pop’s Reprise" (w/ Bilal)

Blonde Redhead - 23 (2007)

4/5
Indie rock, Dream pop
USA (New York City, New York)
download

1. "23" – 5:18
2. "Dr. Strangeluv" – 4:47
3. "The Dress" – 4:00
4. "SW" – 4:35
5. "Spring and by Summer Fall" – 4:15
6. "Silently" – 3:57
7. "Publisher" – 4:01
8. "Heroine" – 4:11
9. "Top Ranking" – 3:27
10. "My Impure Hair" – 4:52

The Roots - Rising Down (2008)

4/5
Hip Hop
USA (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
download

1. "The Pow Wow"
2. "Rising Down" (featuring Mos Def & Styles P)
3. "Get Busy" (featuring Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi)
4. "@ 15"
5. "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)"
6. "Becoming Unwritten"
7. "Criminal" (featuring Truck North & Saigon)
8. "I Will Not Apologize" (featuring Porn & Dice Raw)
9. "I Can't Help It" (featuring Malik B., Porn, Mercedes Martinez & Dice Raw)
10. "Singing Man" (featuring Porn, Truck North & Dice Raw)
11. "Unwritten" (featuring Mercedes Martinez)
12. "Lost Desire" (featuring Malik B. & Talib Kweli)
13. "The Show" (featuring Common & Dice Raw)
14. "Rising Up" (featuring Wale & Chrisette Michele)

Ladytron - Witching Hour (2005)

4/5
Electropop
England
download

1. "High Rise" – 4:54
2. "Destroy Everything You Touch" – 4:36
3. "International Dateline" – 4:17
4. "Soft Power" – 5:19
5. "CMYK" – 1:49
6. "amTV" – 3:26
7. "Sugar" – 2:50
8. "Fighting in Built Up Areas" – 3:59
9. "The Last One Standing" – 3:11
10. "Weekend" – 3:57
11. "Beauty*2" – 4:23
12. "White light generation" – 3:59
13. "All the Way..." – 4:08

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Scribble Mural Comic Journal (2007)

4/5
Shoegaze, Dream pop, Ambient
USA (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
download

1. "Wake Up Pretty" – 1:59
2. "No. 6 Von Karman Street" – 4:15
3. "A Mundane Phonecall to Jack Parsons" – 3:21
4. "Our Change Into Rain Is No Change At All (Talkin' 'bout Us)" – 4:24
5. "Ghost in the Graveyard" – 5:59
6. "5:15 Train" – 4:12
7. "Lists, Plans" – 4:54
8. "C'mon" – 4:27
9. "The Horn Song" – 1:28
10. "Panic Attacks Are What Make Me 'Me'" – 5:15
11. "Watery (Drowning Is Just Another Word For Being Buried Alive Under Water)" – 4:01
12. "Things Only I Can See" – 5:05
13. "The Best Summer Ever" – 4:43

Kidcrash - Snacks (2009)

4/5
Screamo
USA (Sante Fe, New Mexico)
download

1. Space Between Mountains - 4:48
2. Where Nerves Were - 3:59
3. Grim Collections - 4:52
4. Wound Eraser - 4:28
5. Slow Applause - 3:29
6. Brain Snares - 3:32
7. Sleeper Wave - 7:44

Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)

5/5
Folk Rock
USA (Queens, New York City, New York)
download

1. "Bookends Theme" – 0:32
2. "Save the Life of My Child" – 2:49
3. "America" – 3:34
4. "Overs" – 2:14
5. "Voices of Old People" – 2:09
6. "Old Friends" – 2:36
7. "Bookends" – 1:16
8. "Fakin' It" – 3:14
9. "Punky's Dilemma" – 2:10
10. "Mrs. Robinson" – 4:02
11. "A Hazy Shade of Winter" – 2:17
12. "At the Zoo" – 2:21

Immolation - Majesty and Decay (2010)

4/5
Death Metal
USA (Yonkers, New York)
download

Ridiculous and brutal in the greatest ways possible. Most certainly the best death metal album I've heard in a while. If you like any kind of metal whatsoever, you should probably look into this. Essential!

1. "Intro " – 1:19
2. "The Purge" – 3:18
3. "A Token of Malice" – 2:41
4. "Majesty and Decay" – 4:29
5. "Divine Code" – 4:04
6. "In Human Form" – 4:00
7. "A Glorious Epoch" – 4:37
8. "Interlude" – 2:04
9. "A Thunderous Consequence" – 3:58
10. "The Rapture of Ghosts" – 5:19
11. "Power and Shame" – 3:44
12. "The Comfort of Cowards" – 5:52

Nikki Louder - Alain, I'm Sorry (2009)

4/5
Noise Rock, Shoegaze
[?]
download

Noisy, shrieking glory. If you like any kind of spastic, distorted music, then this is something you would greatly benefit from looking into.

1. "Bond Addict" - 3:53
2. "This town is a wolf" - 4:23
3. "A Minnow in the web" - 3:07
4. "Honey, I'm OK" - 3:25
5. "The Air Around" - 3:15
6. "No Disko (For You, Silly Dancers)" - 3:30
7. "Mirrors, mirrors" - 2:45
8. "Sweet are the Girls in Beijing" - 3:46
9. "Charity, People!" - 6:51
10. "She Rides the Cows" - 3:57

Drudkh - Autumn Aurora (2004)

4/5
Atmospheric Black Metal
Ukraine
download

1. "Fading" – 1:31
2. "Summoning the Rain" – 5:41
3. "Glare of Autumn" – 5:09
4. "Sunwheel" – 8:47
5. "Wind of the Night Forests" – 9:59
6. "The First Snow" – 9:10

Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase (2005)

4/5
Electronic, Trip Hop
Scotland
download

1. "Into the Rainbow Vein" - 0:44
2. "Chromakey Dreamcoat" - 5:47
3. "Satellite Anthem Icarus" - 6:04
4. "Peacock Tail" - 5:24
5. "Dayvan Cowboy" - 5:00
6. "A Moment of Clarity" - 0:51
7. "’84 Pontiac Dream" - 3:49
8. "Sherbet Head" - 2:41
9. "Oscar See Through Red Eye" - 5:08
10. "Ataronchronon" - 1:14
11. "Hey Saturday Sun" - 4:56
12. "Constants Are Changing" - 1:42
13. "Slow This Bird Down" - 6:09
14. "Tears from the Compound Eye" - 4:03
15. "Farewell Fire" - 8:26

Mayhem - Live in Leipzig (1993)

3.5/5
Black Metal
Norway
download

1. "Deathcrush" - 4:37
2. "Necrolust" - 3:46
3. "Funeral Fog" - 6:31
4. "Freezing Moon" - 7:05
5. "Carnage" - 4:06
6. "Buried by Time and Dust" - 5:29
7. "Pagn Fears" - 7:00
8. "Chainsaw Gutsfuck" - 5:07
9. "Pure Fucking Armageddon" - 3:10

Mos Def - The Ecstatic (2009)

4/5
Hip Hop
USA (Brooklyn, New York City, New York)
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1. "Supermagic" - 2:32
2. "Twilite Speedball" - 3:02
3. "Auditorium" (featuring Slick Rick) - 4:34
4. "Wahid" - 1:39
5. "Priority" - 1:22
6. "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" - 2:57
7. "Life in Marvelous Times" - 3:41
8. "The Embassy" - 2:45
9. "No Hay Nada Mas" - 1:42
10. "Pistola" - 3:02
11. "Pretty Dancer" - 3:31
12. "Workers Comp" - 2:02
13. "Revelations" - 2:03
14. "Roses" (featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow) - 3:41
15. "History" (featuring Talib Kweli) - 2:21
16. "Casa Bey" - 4:32

Jay Dilla - Jay Stay Paid (2009)

4/5
Hip Hop, Trip Hop
USA (Detroit, Michigan)
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From Wiki:
[Jay Stay Paid] was executive produced by Dilla’s mother Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey along with the musical supervision of Dilla’s musical idol, Pete Rock. In regard to the album's feel and direction Ma Dukes stated:
"It wasn’t rushed and it wasn’t haphazard. This album combines what he did in the beginning of his career, what he did in some of our early hospital stays, which was very deep, and some stuff pulled from old floppy disks & DATs. It's mind blowing... this is like the missing links to Dilla’s legacy."

01. "KJay FM Dedication" - 0:56
02. "King" - 1:28
03. "I Told Yall" - 2:49
04. "Lazer Gunne Funke" - 1:21
05. "In The Night (Owl N Out)/While You Slept (I Crept)" - 2:00
06. "Smoke" (feat. Blu) - 2:09
07. "Blood Sport" (feat. Lil' Fame) - 2:58
08. "CaDILLAc" - 2:01
09. "Expensive Whip" - 1:25
10. "Kaklow (Jump On It)" - 0:56
11. "Digi Dirt" (feat. Phat Kat) - 0:54
12. "Dilla Bot Vs. The Hybrid" (feat. Danny Brown & Constantine) - 2:24
13. "Milk Money" - 1:27
14. "Spacecowboy Vs. Bobble Head" - 2:38
15. "Reality TV (feat. Black Thought) - 2:40
16. "On Stilts" - 1:26
17. "Fire Wood Drumstix" (feat. DOOM) - 1:31
18. "Glamour Sho75 (09)" - 3:02
19. "10,000 Watts" - 1:42
20 "9th Caller" - 1:53
21. "Make It Fast (Unadulterated Mix)" [feat. Diz Gibran] - 5:01
22. "24K Rap" (feat. Havoc & Raekwon) - 4:22
23. "Big City" - 1:02
24. "Pay Day" (feat. Frank Nitty of Frank n Dank) - 1:25
25. "See That Boy Fly" (feat. Illa J & Cue D) - 3:44
26. "Coming Back" - 1:13
27. "Mythsysizer" - 1:44
28. "KJay & We Out" - 1:58

Japandroids - Post-Nothing (2009)

4/5
Garage rock, Noise Pop
Canada
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[Link fixed]
Eight tracks of fuzzy, distorted, screechy, ever so catchy brilliance.

1. "The Boys Are Leaving Town" – 4:01
2. "Young Hearts Spark Fire" – 5:05
3. "Wet Hair" – 3:12
4. "Rockers East Vancouver" – 4:32
5. "Heart Sweats" – 4:25
6. "Crazy/Forever" – 6:04
7. "Sovereignty" – 3:34
8. "I Quit Girls" – 4:55

Elder - Reflect (2009)

4/5
Screamo, Hardcore
USA (Philadelphia, PA)
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Don't know much about these guys, as there's not much about them floating around cyberspace. But, what I do know is that this album is fantastic. Take some shoegaze influence and inject it with some screamo and swirl in some distortion, fuzz, and post-rock and this is what comes out. Great shit.

1. "Empty Lots" - 2:11
2. "Niños" - 6:30
3. "Evasion" - 2:23
4. "Friendly Fire" - 5:02
5. "Vultures" - 1:28
6. "Remember These Days" - 5:59

Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect (2009)

3.5/5
Progressive Metal, Metalcore, Death Metal
USA (Raleigh, North Carolina)
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Apparently, all that touring with Dream Theater really took it's toll on BtBaM's overall sound. They've gone balls to the wall Prog. Metal on us, and it's fantastic. Although, like DT, they've begun to show symptoms of what I've dubbed "Yes Syndrome." You know, like the band Yes? See Tales from Topographic Oceans and you'll know what I'm getting at. Basically, they've gotten too big for their britches and have become too progressive. Regardless, this is still a ridiculous outing. Everyone is in top form and you can really tell they put a lot of effort into this record. I'm giddy with excitement about seeing this performed live.

1. "Mirrors" - 3:38
2. "Obfuscation" - 9:15
3. "Disease, Injury, Madness" - 11:03
4. "Fossil Genera - A Feed from Cloud Mountain" - 12:11
5. "Desert of Song" - 5:34
6. "Swim to the Moon" - 17:54

Converge - Axe to Fall (2009)

4.5/5
Metalcore, Progressive Metal
USA (Salem, Massachusetts)
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Another face-melter from Converge. This time it's more sludgy and just as heavy as ever. Since the first listen , this has been one of my favorites from this year and definitely qualifies for my best-of for 2009.

1. "Dark Horse" - 2:54
2. "Reap What You Sow" - 2:39
3. "Axe to Fall" - 1:41
4. "Effigy" - 1:42
5. "Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast" - 5:52
6. "Wishing Well" - 2:49
7. "Damages" - 4:26
8. "Losing Battle" - 1:46
9. "Dead Beat" - 2:36
10. "Cutter" - 1:40
11. "Slave Driver" - 2:48
12. "Cruel Bloom" - 4:01
13. "Wretched World" - 7:10

Gris - Il Était une Forêt... (2007)

4.5/5
Depressive Black Metal
Canada
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One of my favorite black metal albums ever. The vocals are tortured and gloriously expressive. Not to mention completely fitting to the dark, cold atmosphere this creates. I'd like to point out the closing track La Dryade, which is ten beautiful minutes of ambient genius complete with live violin and piano. Incredibly well done. Even if you hate black metal, at least get this for nothing else than to listen to the last song. Epic doesn't even begin to describe it. Highly recommended to anyone looking to get in to the genre, anyone already familiar with the genre, or anyone who likes metal in general.

1. Il Était une Forêt... - 09:36
2. Le Gala des Gens Heureux - 10:28
3. Cicatrice - 11:44
4. Veux-tu Danser? - 09:28
5. Profonde Misanthropie - 08:05
6. La Dryade - 10:04

Bad 4 Good - Refugee (1991)

4/5
Heavy Metal
USA
link to come

From Wiki:
"Bad4Good was a heavy metal band formed in 1991 by guitarist Steve Vai. The band was a quartet of talented teenagers, the oldest of whom was 16. McRocklin had previously appeared in one of Vai's videos ("The Audience Is Listening"), Cooksey had a career [He was Budnick on Salute Your Shorts, and had a brief stint in the beginning of Terminator 2] as an actor, and Wackerman is the youngest brother of longtime Frank Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman."'

This is actually really good. Much better than the circumstances would warrant. These kids knew what they were doing. Apparently, the guitarist was 12 at the time of recording. TWELVE.

1. Nineteen - 3:56
2. Curious Intentions - 3:49
3. Bangin' Time Again - 4:27
4. Mother of Love - 3:54
5. Devil in the Angel - 4:10
6. Rockin' My Body - 4:00
7. Slow and Beautiful - 5:22
8. Tyre Kickin' (Ya Makin' Me Nervous) - 5:22
9. Terminate - 4:23
10. Nothing Great About A Heartache - 4:29
11. We're Gonna Fight - 4:10
12. I Want Everything - 4:18
13. Felony - 3:18

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock: The Album (1986)

4.5/5
Old School Hip Hop, Electro
USA (The Bronx, New York)
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From Wiki:
"The song "Planet Rock" was one of the earliest hits for hip hop and remains one of its pioneering recordings. The single's liner notes credit Kraftwerk with the song. In creating the track, portions of Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" were used, along with portions of songs by Captain Sky and Ennio Morricone. Rather than sampling these works digitally, the phrases were re-recorded in the studio. 'Planet Rock' is also cited as the first electro funk record"


1. "Planet Rock" – 7:31
2. "Looking for the Perfect Beat" – 6:51
3. "Renegades of Funk" (Remix) – 6:45
4. "Frantic Situation" – 5:07
5. "Who You Funkin' With?" – 6:23
6. "Go Go Pop" – 6:00
7. "They Made a Mistake" – 5:30

Sonic Youth - The Eternal (2009)

4/5
Alternative Rock
USA (New York City, New York)
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1. "Sacred Trickster" - 2:11
2. "Anti-Orgasm" - 6:08
3. "Leaky Lifeboat (for Gregory Corso)" - 3:32
4. "Antenna" - 6:13
5. "What We Know" - 3:54
6. "Calming the Snake" - 3:35
7. "Poison Arrow" - 3:43
8. "Malibu Gas Station" - 5:39
9. "Thunderclap for Bobby Pyn" - 2:38
10. "No Way" - 3:52
11. "Walkin Blue" - 5:21
12. "Massage the History" - 9:43