Genre: Pop Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 5.5/10 Commentary: More of the same from Sharon Van Etten. Sad songs about relationships and banal conversations with friends and former friends. Not her best. More info: here. Listen: here.
Genre: Country/Folk Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 7.5/10 Commentary: It’s been a rough few years for men in the alt country music scene dominated by Jason Isbell’s not-drinking-any-more songs and Chris Stapleton’s beard. Finally, we have what we’ve been waiting for, a clever, quiet, and understated return to good songwriting. What a relief. More… Read More »
Genre: Opera Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 8/10 Commentary: 450 year’s later, Monteverdi’s opera beautifully and sparsely rendered by John Gardiner, the Monteverdi choir, and period instruments from the English Baroque Soloisits. More info: here. Listen: here.
Genre: Power Metal Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 9.5/10 Commentary: This is basically a perfect power metal album. And, it has a picture of a ice zombie viking on the cover. Enough said. More info: here. Listen: here.
Genre: Jazz Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 8.5/10 Commentary: This is an incredible British jazz (?) album which deliveries some amazing rhythms and sparse saxophone playing, with vocals that contest the legitimacy of the British monarchy and its relevance for black immigrants – delivering up a series of tributes to alternative Queens — Ada… Read More »
Genre: Blues Rock Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 7.5/10 Commentary: In some ways this is a straight-forward blues rock album, but subverted and reinvented by its fusion with Haitian rhythms and themes. The first half in particular is compelling. More info: here. Listen: here.
Last list for the year. Here are the overall top 5 for 2018. 5. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Distant Sky: Live in Copenhagen Genre: Rock More info: here. Listen: here. 4. Patricia Kopatchinskaja/Polina Leschenko – Deux Genre: Classical More info: here. Listen: here. … Read More »
Top 10 country/folk albums of the year! Going for 10 instead of 5, because there were so many good ones this year. 10. Various Artists – Restoration: Reimaging the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin Genre: Country More info: here. Listen: here. 9. John Prine – Tree of Forgiveness… Read More »
Top 5 rock albums of the year! 5. Cloud Nothings- Last Building Burning Genre: Punk Rock More info: here. Listen: here. 4. Viagra Boys – Street Worms Genre: Rock More info: here. Listen: here. 3. Oh Sees – Smote Reverser Genre: Psychedelic rock More info:… Read More »
Top 5 metal albums of the year! 5. Ghost – Prequelle Genre: Stadium Metal More info: here. Listen: here. 4. Portal – Ion Genre: Experimental Metal More info: here. Listen: here. 3. High on Fire – Electric Messiah Genre: Stoner metal More info: here. Listen… Read More »