Glassjaw – Material Control
In their first release in 15 years, the Long Island vets
come back with a bang. With nearly a new lineup, Glassjaw deliver a one-two
punch that not only pulverizes the listener, it also pushes them into new
territory. This is the type of record where longtime fans will appreciate and
new fans will love.
FINAL GRADE: A
Four Tet – New Energy
The brilliance of Four Tet should never be questioned and
this surprise release album is certainly one that creates a musical landscape
for the listeners to travel to without leaving their home.
FINAL GRADE: A
Dirty Orange – XXX EP
Dirty Orange have released brand new EP from one of London’s
most uncanny and ruthless new bands. The trio brings forth more of the rawness
of underground garage rock and continues to not only be one of the more
exciting rock and roll bands around but also the most real.
FINAL GRADE: A
Converge – The Dusk In Us
Five years since their last release, Converge return and
like a jackhammer just slam the listener deeper into levels of darkness, chaos,
and brutality. Even as they get older, Converge still know how to get a
listeners attention.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Mastodon – Cold Dark Place EP
The Georgia metal monster return with their second release
of the year and while Cold Dark Place is an EP, it picks up where their latest
record, Emperor of Sand, left off.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Robert Plant – Carry Fire
The former Led Zeppelin singer does not get enough credit
for his magnificent solo work and Carry Fire is a prime example of that. At his
age, Plant can just retire and also stick to what works, but Carry Fire is a
musical soundscape filled with experimental sounds and magic.
FINAL GRADE: A-
King Krule – The Ooz
The British beatmaker and producer is back with his new album,
The Ooz, and while the sounds go forth in very interesting and intricate
directions, it tends to get a bit redundant. Yet, even in his repetition, he
remains a fascinating figure with boundary-pushing releases.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Marilyn Manson – Heaven Upside Down
The self-proclaimed “God of Fuck” returned with one of his
best records in years. Heaven Upside Down came after numerous delays and may
have been worth the wait. The shock rocker bares his soul and political
feelings and while he has never held anything back, on Heaven Upside Down, he
has fully unleashed a new beast.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Mavis Staples – If All I Was Was Black
The iconic soul singer raises the bar on not just protest
music but also doesn’t hold back on how the system has wronged her and
African-Americans in this country. It is one of the most heartbreaking and raw
albums of the year and her career.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Stars – There is No Love in Fluorescent Light
Stars have always been a band that celebrates life and their
latest is a testament to that. In our turbulent times, it is nice to let your
hair down once in a while and be thankful you are alive and this record reminds
us to do just that.
FINAL GRADE: B+
U2 – Songs of Experience
After a series of setbacks, delays and massive tours, U2
finally released Songs of Experience. The album is one that takes multiple
listens to fully digest as Bono looks for hope and pleasure in his life and
finds it in his loved ones. While its predecessor, Songs of Innocence, was
about U2 growing up, this record is how they stayed together and how their
influences like family, America, politics, and rock and roll, kept them going
for so long.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Talib Kweli – Radio Silence
The iconic Brooklyn emcee returned with one his best albums.
Radio Silence is a look at today while paying homage to the 90s hip-hop era
where Kweli cut his teeth. For those in the new school, this is a record about
how you maintain longevity.
FINAL GRADE: B
Cool Kids – Special Edition Grandmaster Deluxe
The Chicago hip-hop duo return after nearly a decade away
from the scene and while hip-hop has changed, they stay true to themselves.
FINAL GRADE: B
Bjork – Utopia
Following her break-up record, Vulnicura, Bjork returns with
a record about trying to find new love at her age and in a new era. Utopia is
part pop record, part experimental, part celebratory but it is all pure Bjork.
FINAL GRADE: B
N.E.R.D. – No One Ever Really Dies
The iconic alternative hip-hop group returns and as Pharrell
and Chad Hugo give a series of fun and party starting beats, the record does
take serious turns with guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, and
Frank Ocean.
FINAL GRADE: B
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built The Moon?
On his third solo record, Gallagher tries to become more
experimental than ever before and there are moments where it works and other
times it sounds like someone who is doing it just for the sake of being
strange. The records best moments are when Gallagher sticks to the guns that helped
skyrocket his career.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Squeeze – The Knowledge
The rock vets return and while they are still going at a
steadfast pace at their age they are not bringing anything new to the table and
sticking with what works, which is why in 2017, a Squeeze record is more for
longtime fans rather than new ones.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Stereophonics – Scream Above the Sounds
The Welsh band, who were once on top of the world, sound
bored and dull on their latest. Scream Above the Sounds feels like a record putting
out new music because they feel as if they have to and not want to.
FINAL GRADE: C
Eminem – Revival
The iconic rapper returns to take on the Trump
administration and while his effort is valiant, it doesn’t require a full
record. Revival sounds like a pop record infused with rap trying its hardest to
be a protest album. While the bars and intensity is there, the cramming of too
many styles makes the message sound forced.
FINAL GRADE: C-
Morrissey – Low in High School
The former Smiths singer returned with a cheeky new record
but as the years have gone one, the caliber of his records has withered.
Morrissey has not sounded inspired, excited, and interesting in nearly a decade
and Low in High School is just more songs about self loathing and frustration.
Yet, maybe after a series of headline making problems, cancelled shows, and
controversies, Morrissey’s biggest problem is himself.
FINAL GRADE: D