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Real Numbers

Wordless Wonder
Slumberland Records (2016)

There are a lot of traps in music journalism. Some, like genre, are the same traps that artists fall into. Because of the constrained vocabulary of describing sounds it can be a challenge to speak of a difference between influence, mimicry, and hybrids. So often when a modern band is described as in tune with an early sound, it’s nostalgic … Read more

Darkthrone

Arctic Thunder
Peaceville (2016)

Darkthrone may have been around for nigh on thirty years, but it hasn’t stopped the Norwegian duo from consistently releasing music and constantly changing up their sound to keep them from living too much in the past. Beginning on a more death metal style, before moving on to black metal (and helping to create the whole second wave of black … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Tom Odell

Spending All My Christmas With You EP
Columbia (2016)

Tom Odell's an interesting prospect: The 26-year-old is an Ivor Novello and BRIT award winner with two albums to his name, who mixes piano-laden ballads with affecting pop melodies. His sound is the kind of music that Jools Holland would merrily tap his foot along to after he's three wines deep and yammering on about pianos, so a Tom Odell … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Taylor Hawkins

KOTA e.p.
Independent (2016)

CEO of SPB Inc: "No."Me: "why?"CEO of SPB Inc: "Because we don't include EP's on the top 25 year end list. You were aware of this when you signed the contract"Me: "But sir, while the contract does state as such, if the EP in question is one of the best releases of the year, should it not be included?"CEO of … Read more

A Tribe Called Quest

We Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service
Epic (2016)

It's been a year of protests. Whether it's regarding the new president-elect, Black Lives Matter, or sitting down during the national anthem, folks are letting their displeasure with the current state of affairs.With that said, it's been a while that anyone has released anything that could be categorized as a protest album. Hell, that might not even be a real … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Getaway
Warner Bros. (2016)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have seen their fair share of detractors over the years. No need to rehash the descriptives here, but the naysayers should give their mouths and keyboards a rest for a while, as The Getaway is the band's strongest album since Blood, Sugar, Sex Magic. Yes, you heard that right. This is the band's strongest album … Read more

Sex Stains

Sex Stains
Don Giovanni (2016)

Sex Stains put it all out front on the opening “Countdown to…” which is as much a confrontational statement of purpose as it is a song. The speak-sing nature and rambling tone set the stage instead of opening with a thundering riff or singalong hit. The band is equal parts accessible punk, destructive no wave, and art rock. And, yes, … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Radiohead

A Moon Shaped Pool
XL Recordings (2016)

A Radiohead album release has become akin to finding folding money under a seat cushion. It doesn't happen often and when it does, it's usually a surprise.Such was the release of A Moon Shaped Pool. No one expected it, but then...it was just there. More specifically, the announcement of it came only a week before the release and was accompanied … Read more

Drakulas

Raw Wave
Dirtnap (2016)

At this point Riverboat Gamblers have enough side projects that there’s almost an expectation of sound before listening, that unifying factor between all the different bands that have spidered from the source band. Introduce Drakulas, who released an EP on Red Scare Industries last year and now come with a full-length Raw Wave debut on Dirtnap Records. Not only does … Read more

200 Words Or Less

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Dissociation
Party Smasher Inc. (2016)

The progression of The Dillinger Escape Plan over the years has truly been a sight to behold. This is taking into consideration that their 1999 debut Calculating Infinity was no mere basic introduction. It was already two spots to the right on the evolutionary chart.Dissociation would appear, if recent interviews are to be believed (and why on earth wouldn't they … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Leonard Cohen

You Want It Darker
Columbia (2016)

David Bowie's passing was a huge blow for most of us. But luckily we had his final release, Blackstar to ease us through the loss.Now, with the passing of Leonard Cohen, we find ourselves assuaged with the same sadness and loss, but thankfully once again a legend was kind enough - while coming to grips with his own mortality, to … Read more

Attention

!Attention!
Tour Van Records (2016)

Do you like long song titles that are loosely related to the subject matter, along with gruff vocal singalong punk? If so, !Attention! is right at home. I haven’t seen the band but it’s easy to picture them playing a Durty Nelly’s set at The Fest as drunkos spill half their PBR cans on the floor after hitting them on … Read more

Brain Tentacles

Brain Tentacles
Relapse (2016)

Three great musicians of the extreme/experimental metal scene meet up to as Brain Tentacles. Bruce Lamont of Yakuza, Dave Witte of Discordance Axis and Aaron Dallison of Keelhaul, do not need much of an introduction, but their new project certainly does. The band's debut album, coming out through Relapse, shows an unconventional take on extreme metal, replacing electric guitars with … Read more

Bullnettle

Bullnettle
Dirt Cult (2016)

I discovered This Is My Fist at the tail end of the band’s run, which was unfortunate in that I didn’t get to experience new material or live shows. Throughout that band’s material, vocalist Annie Saunders was the clear standout in the group, her ability to make a message connect atop of furious music. Well, it’s been a few years … Read more

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