Monthly Roundup May 2017

Highlights among the highlights(and a few notes):

Mac Demarco released his least ambitious album this time around. Still enjoyable but the songwriting here is extremely lacking while the lyrics are a bit more fleshed out, which he alluded to in pre-release interviews. Just not his strongest effort yet still enjoyable.

UPDATED: SPOTIFY LIST!

Oxbow put out a pretty left field album considering their normal sound. This time around they went for a more orchestral "huge" sound mixed with noisy bluesy rock. Very nice turn for this band that has existed since the 80s!

Slowdive came back and released a solid album, not an amazing album, but a solid one that is worth hearing, especially if you are a huge Slowdive fan, which I am not.

Girlpool surprised me with their second album. To me the first album was abysmal. I still think it is one of the worst albums made by any artist. This second one sees them jump light years ahead in terms of quality all around. Gone are the harsh screeching dual vocals. Gone is the horrible lame attempt to ape Beat Happening. This one feels very fleshed out and mature. I am now happy to see what they will be making moving forward.

Jim Jones and The Righteous Mind released a blistering set of Stooges inspired garage rock that really will impress fans of all types of hard rock that isn't afraid to throw a few guitar solos here and there!

Paramore shocked me with their first good album. They went back to the 80s and basically made their version of a Vampire Weekend album.

Jlin returned with a great set of songs. Her percussion programming is pretty fucking excellent. There are surprises with each listen on this one. Definitely one of the best of the year so far.

Pokey came back with a solid set of more soulful styled old timey rock tunes. I wouldn't say better than his old style but definitely not worse, just a nice addition to his impressive catalog.

This really was the month for surprise. Quite a few bands I had written off for various reasons released music that I actually enjoyed. As I mentioned above Girlpool and Paramore shocked me, but moving down the list I have to mention 2 more. The Mountain Goats released what I feel is their best album yet with "Goths" and Wavves really impressed me with their new album, free from a major label and utilizing a lot of samples this time around with "You're Welcome" Also Crescent returned which is nice!

May 5th

Mac DeMarco-This Old Dog(Captured Tracks)

Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Folk Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Soft Rock, Synth Pop

Juana Molina-Halo(Crammed Discs)

Genre: Folktronica, Art Pop, Avant-Folk

Oxbow-Thin Black Duke(Hydra Head)

Genre: Experimental Rock, Art Rock, Noise Rock, Blues Rock

Perfume Genius-No Shape(Matador)

Genre: Art Pop, Ambient Pop, Minimal Wave

Joan Shelley-Self Titled(No Quarter)

Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, English Folk Music, Indie Folk

Slowdive-Self Titled(Dead Oceans)

Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Ambient Pop

Wooden Wand-Clipper Ship(Three Lobed)

Genre: Indie Folk

May 12th

Joey Agresta-Let's Not Talk About Music(Wharf Cat)

Genre: LO-FI Folk, Indie Rock

Girlpool-Powerplant(Anti-)

Genre: Indie Pop, LO-FI Indie, Twee Pop, Dream Pop

Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind-Super Natural(Hound Gawd!)

Genre: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock

Paramore-After Laughter(Fueled By Ramen)

Genre: New Wave, Alternative Dance, Synthpop, Power Pop

Pwr Bttm-Pageant(Polyvinyl)

Genre: Queercore, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Emo-Pop

Harry Styles-Self Titled(Columbia)

Genre: Pop Rock, Glam Rock, Folk Pop, Hard Rock, Singer/Songwriter

BMX Bandits-Forever(Elefant)

Genre: Indie Pop

Jlin-Black Origami(Planet Mu)

Genre: Footwork, Afro-House, Post-Industrial, Tribal House

Pokey LaFarge-Manic Revelations(Rounder)

Genre: Blue Eyed Soul, Folk, Country

Low Cut Connie-Dirty Pictures Part 1(Contender)

Genre: Rock n Roll

Man Forever-Play What They Want(Thrill Jockey)

Genre: Experimental, Drone, Indie Rock

The Mountain Goats-Goths(Merge)

Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Chamber Pop, Twee Pop

Daniel Romano-Modern Pressure(You've Changed)

Genre: Psychedelic Folk, Folk Rock

She Devils-Self Titled(Secretly Canadian)

Genre: Punk, Garage Rock

Wavves-You're Welcome(Ghost Ramp)

Genre: Indie Rock, Garage Rock, Pop Punk

White Hills-Stop Mute Defeat(Thrill Jockey)

Genre: Darkwave, Psychedelic Rock, Post-Punk

May 26th

Sam Amidon-The Following Mountain(Nonesuch)

Genre: Folk

Crescent-Resin Pockets(Geographic)

Genre: LO-FI, Indie Rock