2nd Quarter Favorites 2020

Hi everybody! Welcome to our 2nd Quarter favorites of 2020. Lots of really fun and inventive and just really good music in the past 3 months. So take a look and pop on the spotify playlist included and have a wild ride!

*Quarter Rats-The Quarantine Tapes is only available on Bandcamp so here is the link for it!: https://thequarterrats.bandcamp.com/album/the-quarantine-tapes

Aksak Maboul-Figures(Crammed Discs)

Genre: Progressive Pop, Rock In Opposition.

Why It's Good: For a legendary band to not have released an album since 1980 and this is the result is absolutely ridiculous. It's almost as if the Rock In Opposition movement never ended and this can easily slide in as one of the best albums of that genre. These guys take new twists and modern turns for the style on this outing and it's a very nice thing to have in 2020.

Fiona Apple-Fetch The Bolt Cutters(Epic)

Genre: Art Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Pop, Piano Rock, Jazz Pop, Cabaret.

Why It's Good: What can you say about this album that hasn't already been said. I think it's a bit unfair of Pitchfork to throw a perfect 10 onto this. I do think it is a modern masterpiece and a classic in Fiona Apple's catalog. Do I think it's her best album? Not yet. I might in the future as each of her albums has grown on me more and more with each passing year. Is this one of the best Singer/Songwriter albums ever? Yeah it just might be. With a focus on percussion this time out Fiona crafts one of her most spontaneous and "out there" albums of her career. There are touchpoints to this sound in her catalog but nothing really that would explain what she made here. This is highly recommended and another great album from one of the greatest songwriters going today.

Nicole Atkins-Italian Ice(Single Lock)

Genre: Pop Soul, Nashville Sound.

Why It's Good: An amazing throwback to the AM Pop of the 60s and 70s. It definitely has a classic female singer/songwriter feel akin to Carole King, Stevie Nicks and the like. Has a very laid back summer nighttime vibe. Sounds as comfortable in the city as it does in the rural countryside. It also has a funky feel so there is a nod to the weird Country Funk movement that happened on the fringes of the music scene in the 70s. So that's a good thing!

BC Camplight-Shortly After Takeoff(Bella Union)

Genre: Art Pop, Art Rock, Chamber Pop, Psychedelic Pop.

Why It's Good: This is an excellent example of Indie Pop done right. The sound on this is very reminiscent of the classic late 90s early 2000s Indie classics like Flaming Lips' Soft Bulletin and Grandaddy's The Sophtware Slump. This is sometimes orchestral, sometimes really crunchy and rockin' and always inventive. Should not be missed if you are a fan of the amazing heyday of turn of the millennia Indie Pop.

Black Curse-Endless Wound(Sepulchral Voice)

Genre: Death Metal, Black Metal, War Metal.

Why It's Good: The best black metal album released so far this year. Just brutal and pummeling. This is not an easy listen and not for the faint of heart.

Boat-Tread Lightly(Magic Marker)

Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop.

Why It's Good: Sounding a lot like the Unicorns and Daniel Johnston with a touch of every single awesome Indie Rock bands of the late 90s and early 2000s. These guys nail(at this point) this throwback style perfectly. It's a style of music that never really went away but has remained a quiet little sweet spot of some of the best albums in the past 10 years. You can slide this album amongst the best of them. It has an amazing off the cuff feel to it complete with studio fuckups. If you like classic Indie Rock you gotta check this out!

Car Seat Headrest-Making A Door Less Open(Matador)

Genre: Indietronica, Indie Rock, Alternative Dance, Synthpop.

Why It's Good: There has been and still is a lot of hate for this album. I don't get it. He added some synths and more overt electronics to the mix and his fans lost their minds. One thing I did notice is the non diehard fans are the ones who really like this. I think it sounds pretty darn amazing. Pairing his awesome laid back voice with electronic beats is an idea he should explore more. Supposedly his band had a heavier hand in regards to writing these songs and that's a great thing! It provides for a lot of variety and surprising moments within their catalog. Don't sleep on this just because the haters can't handle it!

Caustic Wound-Death Posture(Profound Lore)

Genre: Deathgrind.

Why It's Good: Just pure brutality wrapped up in a Death Metal/Grindcore hybrid that sounds genuinely scary at points. They take Sabbath riffs and shoot them to the moon and back. Not for the faint of heart.

Chemtrails-The Peculiar Smell Of The Inevitable(PNKSLM)

Genre: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Pop, Indie Rock.

Why It's Good: Awesome fast paced Indie Punk Power Pop. Very reminiscent of the best Garage Rock ala Thee Oh Sees. Super punky but with dose of sweetness and melody help this album stand out amongst the pack. Super catchy and super fun, these guys can give Parquet Courts a run for their money. When they chill out they come across as a nice Hypnagogic Pop band in the vein of Ariel Pink. Their last album was also insanely good in case you like this.

Crywank-Fist Me Til Your Fist Comes Out My Mouth(Self Released)

Genre: Anti Folk, Freak Folk, Avant Folk, Experimental Rock, Folk Punk, Midwest Emo, Electronic, Progressive Folk, Free Folk, LO-FI.

Why It's Good: This is just a crazy sprawling modern weirdo Freak Folk masterpiece. It's super weird and twisted both musically and lyrically. It's a very exciting and interesting listen for a folk album. Especially these days, you don't come across this outsider sound too much anymore. Supposedly this is their final album and they really went for it, especially in the length department. It's a shame if it is their last because these guys are pretty good.

Deerhoof-Future Teenage Cave Artists(Joyful Noise)

Genre: Art Pop, Indie Rock, Noise Pop, Neo Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Math Rock.

Why It's Good: Finally returning to something resembling their awesome raw rockin' period from the early 2000s. I've been waiting for them to do this since before Runner's Four came out(their double album that came out in 2005). For that alone this is a reason to check this out. For others, this is a blast of a chaotic Indie Rock album.

Drain-California Cursed(Revelation)

Genre: Crossover Thrash, Metalcore.

Why It's Good: Great throwback West Coast Thrash album that can take it's place with all the other greats from the 80s and 90s. If you like classic metal with that awesome undercurrent of skate/punk culture thrown in to offset the seriousness of the music this is perfect for you. Think the musical equivalent of the back cover of Slayer's Reign In Blood and that's what this album is like.

James Elkington-Ever Roving Eye(Paradise Of Bachelors)

Genre: Contemporary Folk, Baroque Folk.

Why It's Good: A masterfully done finger picking guitar album that reflects the best of Americana and British Folk Music. Very peaceful and relaxing.

Endless Field-Alive In The Wilderness(Biophilia)

Genre: Progressive Folk, Jazz, Experimental.

Why It's Good: A very chilled out Jazz influenced Folk album. Even though this might sound contradictory for this site but this is perfect background music. Usually we focus on music that is anything but meant for the background but this music is so effortless and weightless it really is perfect for putting on in the background and this is a great thing(this time).

Hollow Ship-Future Remains(PNKSLM)

Genre: Psychedelic Rock.

Why It's Good: If you are like me then you realize Tame Impala ceased to be good after Lonerism. If you are also like me you recognize Lonerism as Tame Impala's best album. This album is what would happen if Tame Impala kept going in the direction that Lonerism set up. Add in a little jam band chillness and this is what you get.

Hum-Inlet(Earth Analog)

Genre: Shoegaze, Alternative Metal, Space Rock, Post Metal, Post Hardcore.

Why It's Good: Shoegaze legends return with some of their best songs yet. I always enjoyed these guys because they never sacrificed song for atmosphere like most Shoegaze bands did and still do. These songs are as clear as they are atmospheric. This is shoegaze with some muscle and some really good songwriting behind it.

Inventions-Continuous Portrait(Temporary Residence Ltd.)

Genre: Post Rock, Ambient.

Why It's Good: Great mood music from members of Explosions In The Sky and Eluvium. This is really fun and exploratory music. Even though it has the Post Rock genre tag above it really doesn't fall too into any of the boring cliche tropes that genre has had to offer lately. This is Post Rock filtered through interesting and electronic instrumentation. So the songs are structured like typical Post Rock but it sounds fresh and new because of how it's done. It's very atmospheric and chilled out.

Caleb Landry Jones-The Mother Stone(Sacred Bones)

Genre: Art Rock, Baroque Pop, Progressive Pop, Cabaret, Glam Rock, Vaudeville, Psychedelic Pop.

Why It's Good: This is another album that has gotten pretty awful reviews and I just don't get it. Maybe people hate on it because he's an actor(not a super famous one, but a good one). Maybe people don't like the excellently written Beatlesque Pop. Maybe they don't love the way he expertly crafts excellent throwback Glam Rock. I have no idea but it's all positive to me!

Jockstrap-Wicked City EP(Warp)

Genre: Art Pop, Glitch Pop, Progressive Pop, Deconstructed Club, Singer/Songwriter.

Why It's Good: Probably has the biggest WTF? moment of 2020 so far. I'm not gonna say much aside from pointing out you MUST listen to all of track 1 and the lead in to the second track. This might be offputting for some but to me it's perfect for my A.D.D. listening tendencies and one of the most creative releases of 2020.

Joyryde-Brave(Hard Recs)

Genre: Bass House, Hip House, Trap, Bassline.

Why It's Good: Excellent club influenced Techno with great guest spots. There isn't too much to say about this but if you like dark dance influenced electronic music at all you should really check this out.

Pokey LaFarge-Rock Bottom Rhapsody(New West)

Genre: Rhythm & Blues, Vocal Jazz, Americana.

Why It's Good: Another great album from a great voice of American music. He sounds as old timey as it gets but this time around I feel like there is a huge Andrew Bird reference coming in. Especially Bird's album The Swimming Hour(my fave). The orchestration on this album is really tasteful and in certain spots completely jaw dropping. This also has my favorite love song so far this year in "Lucky Sometimes".

Natalia Lafourcade-Un Canto Por Mexico Vol.1(Sony Music)

Genre: Mexican Folk Music, Ranchera, Mariachi, Son Jarocho, Bolero, Cumbia Mexicana, Son Istmeno.

Why It's Good: Quite simply the best Mexican Folk music I have ever heard. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Magnetic Fields-Quickies(Nonesuch)

Genre: Indie Pop, Indie Folk, Chamber Pop, Folk Pop.

Why It's Good: Not as good as 69 Love Songs but I doubt anything will be but this comes close. This is a collection of quite a lot of short songs. I don't think anything clocks in at over 2:30 but I could be wrong. The songs are funny and tragic in the perfect Magnetic Fields style.

Nidia-Nao Fales Nela Que A Mentes(Principe)

Genre: Batida, Tarraxinha, Footwork, Afro House, UK Bass.

Why It's Good: Like a trippy soundtrack to an 8 bit video game that doesn't exist yet. Really great use of rhythm and sound design. This album is extremely playful and inviting. This is kind of like a playful version of Jlin. Highly recommended.

Pink Siifu-Negro(Self Released)

Genre: Sound Collage, Noisecore, Power Electronics, Spoken Word, Political Hip Hop, Industrial Hip Hop, Avant Garde Jazz.

Why It's Good: Is this Hip Hop? Is this Noise? Is this angry? Is this sad? Yes to all of the above. This is one of the most intense Noise albums of the year and also one of the most intense Hip Hop albums of the year. This is really brutal stuff. Really in your face angry noise.

Brigid Mae Power-Head Above The Water(Fire)

Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Psychedelic Folk.

Why It's Good: The best Folk album of the year so far. Extremely well crafted with a delicate and perfect touch. This hits all the classic great touchstones of excellent Folk music that has happened throughout the years.

Quarter Rats-All Parades Must Pass EP/The Quarantine Tapes(Self Released)

Genre: Noise Rock, Hardcore Punk, Post Hardcore, Garage Punk.

Why It's Good: Quite simply the best current Noise Rock band going right now. The first EP is an excellent continuation of the sound they established on the first EP. In fact I would consider it a perfect companion piece to the first EP. This means blistering Noise Rock filled with amazing melodies bubbling just under the surface. This is Noise Pop that leans much more towards the Noise side but definitely keeps your feet tapping while it pummels you over the head. The Quarantine Tapes are self recorded songs the band made while under the shelter in place order in New Orleans this year. They definitely made great use of their time with this excellent set of self recorded songs. The tempos are a bit slower but the intensity remains the same. This is definitely a band to watch!

R.A. The Rugged Man-All My Heroes Are Dead(Nature Sounds)

Genre: Hardcore Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Conscious Hip Hop.

Why It's Good: Great mostly for what it's not. It's not super modern. It's not indebted to modern trends, mostly Trap. This album holds true to all the greats of 80s and 90s Hip Hop. By going retro he's created one of the best albums of his entire career. Sometimes the past can be a great thing.

Run The Jewels-RTJ4(BMG)

Genre: Hardcore Hip Hop, Political Hip Hop, Experimental Hip Hop.

Why It's Good: Just pure energy. This album blasts out of the gates from track 1 and doesn't let up until it's done. This is future Hip Hop ala in the vein of stuff like Death Grips and Jpegmafia. This is where Hip Hop should be going. This is all forward momentum. When it dropped during the beginning of the BLM and Defund the Police protests it felt like the perfect soundtrack for the pointed intelligent anger the protests were confronting wrongdoers with.

Jeff Rosenstock-No Shame(Quote Unquote)

Genre: Pop Punk, Power Pop, Skate Punk, Indie Rock.

Why It's Good: Do you remember high school in the 90s? Do you remember the classic skate punk and emo sounds from the early 2000s? Then this album is for you. Rosenstock always crafts the most amazing songs out of the wellspring of Pop Punk and Emo and this is another classic from him.

Sonic Boom-All Things Being Equal(Carpark)

Genre: Neo Psychedelia, Synthpop.

Why It's Good:This is insanely good, especially for a second solo album in 31 years! This is insanely good! It feels like it's full circle from his producing Panda Bear. It sounds like he really admired Panda Bear and took some of it in his own hands. This is a hypnotic trance like listen full of color and little bubbles of interesting musical flourishes. It's an amazing alien wonderland of an album and I'm really thankful he is back!

Sports Team-Deep Down Happy(Island)

Genre: Indie Rock, Post Punk.

Why It's Good: Following in the style of bands like Art Brut and Idles(mostly in the vocals) this band brings humor and fun to a very stagnant Post Punk scene. The singer has an insane amount of charm and wit and the music follows him with every step. From their band name down to all the little one liners these guys are knocking it out of the park and laughing all the while.

The Strokes-The New Abnormal(RCA/Cult)

Genre: Indie Rock, New Wave, Synthpop, Post Punk.

Why It's Good: After having a few less than albums I feel like they have come back quite a bit. It feels like finally Julians's solo goodness is finally meeting with where The Strokes are at right now. The melodies are stronger and the overall mood gives an air of effortlessness. If you like classic Strokes I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

Moses Sumney-Grae(Jagjaguwar)

Genre: Art Pop, Ambient Pop, Neo Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Progressive Pop.

Why It's Good: So far this is the best Soul album of the year. It's very inventive and very understated as well. These songs feel lived in and you feel a real human connection with his music. His falsetto blends perfectly with everything around him it's kind of amazing at the end of it all. This is the direction Soul music needs to go in. Inventive, arty and with a lightness of being that brings the listener in.

Sun Araw-Rock Sutra(Sun Ark)

Genre: Neo Psychedelia, Dub, Sequencer And Tracker, EAI, Exotica.

Why It's Good: A totally trippy amazing tropical exotica influenced Art Rock album. Supposedly these songs were all recorded live in one take. It's pretty incredible because these sessions sound both inventive and effortless. Super laid back. Kind of like Exotica on crack or something akin to Ween making laid back tropical weirdness. Highly recommended to pair with a tropical drink in the heat of the summer.

Westside Gunn-Pray For Paris(Griselda)

Genre: East Coast Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Gangsta Rap.

Why It's Good: So at this point is Westside Gunn just always going to deliver insanely solid unfuckable with Hip Hop albums? It sure as hell seems that way. He is one to watch that everybody is currently watching for good reason. He has an old school sensibility but a sound perfect for these modern times and for God's sake will you look at that insanely incredible album art? What Hip Hop album has art like that?!!?

Chip Wickham-Blue To Red(Lovemonk)

Genre: Soul Jazz, Spiritual Jazz.

Why It's Good: This album is pure throwback sound. This could easily be an Exotica album from the late 50s early 60s. This music was meant for cocktail parties all across the world. For dark bars with tropical drinks flowing, thatched huts on the beach and perfect party music for the sophisticated music aficionado ready to chill out or cut a rug on the dance floor. This is throwback to an era that doesn't get looked at enough as a place to revisit. Sexy swinging shit for sure!

Young T.O. And DaBoii-Demon And Mufasa(Empire)

Genre: West Coast Hip Hop, G Funk, Trap.

Why It's Good: Quite simply one of the best Hip Hop albums of the year. Why is this great? Well by melding classic West Coast Hip Hop tropes such as G Funk and the overall flow style of late 80s Hip Hop(mostly N.W.A.) with Trap they came out with an excellent classic sound that was touched upon a little bit last year by Denzel Curry. The lyrical content is often hilarious and their devotion to the past with one eye toward the future is what makes this great.