Top 10 for week ending in 10/23/21

 

10. Alicia Walter – I Am Alicia (Sooper Records)

“There are so many influences on this record it’s hard to keep track — jazz, hip hop, ‘80s funk, soul, indie pop — this art-rock/art-pop record has it all. Walter explores a journey of self-exploration throughout the album, and not one track loses the momentum introduced by the first (except the final one, which starts off slow but flourishes so very nicely). Every song seems to transport the listener to a different era in music.”

– Casey C.

9. Amyl and the Sniffers – Comfort To Me (ATO)

“If you’re a fan of 80s/90s riot grrrl groups like Bratmobile and Sleater-Kinney, you’re sure to love this. Take the attitude and feminist perspective of those groups and combine it with the modern indie punk style popularized by bands like Idles and Shame, and you’ve got one hell of a record.”

– Michael C.

8. Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (Dead Oceans)

“Michelle Zauner defined this album as her singing about joy rather than the sadness steeped in her previous albums after the death of her mother in 2014… in tracks like “In Hell” and “Posing in Bondage” Zauner lapses into reflective sadness, but the melancholy is so beautifully executed one barely notices the sad nature of her lyrics.”

– Casey C.

7. Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (AGE 101)

“…Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (an acronym for Simbi) shows the rapper’s continued trials and triumphs of writing sick flows that have helped her through both traumas and successes. Simbi the introvert and Simz the performer both have a voice on this record as do her authentic and vulnerable musings about life. Finally having the means to actualize songs how she imagines them, this translates to an album that Simz says she is proud of and was inspired by higher powers to make.”

– Amelia A.

6. Low – HEY WHAT (Sub Pop)

“[HEY WHAT] strikes a delicate balance between their previous record, Double Negative, and their more traditional “rock” albums like I Could Live In Hope. The use of distortion over the electronic production really complements their vocals and maintains the tone of the record.”

– Casey C.

5. Joe Taylor Sutkowski – Of Wisdom & Folly (Danger Collective)

“This album has a nice acoustic folk-indie sound that sounds a bit like Hovvdy and Alex G. Joe has said that he was influenced by Chocolate USA, a side project of Neutral Milk Hotel collaborator Julian Koster.”

– Casey C.

4. Fleece – Stunning & Atrocious (self-released)

“While Voyager was at times amateurish in its execution, the core of the record and its psychedelic roots were strong, and the songwriting showed great promise. Stunning & Atrocious is the full realization of this potential, with refined production, stunning instrumentation, and some of the band’s best songwriting to date.”

– Michael C.

3. Modest Mouse – The Golden Casket (Epic Records)

“[The Golden Casket] is another monumental addition to [Modest Mouse’s] colorful catalog of hits. The evidently intricate production and focus on themes of time and love avalanches into the deep uncertainty our generation is faced with. Some light pandering with some thoughtful questions posed.”

– Ryan R.

2. Tirzah – Colourgrade (Domino)

“With a minimalistic style that draws upon elements of pop, R&B, and hip hop, many of the songs touch on themes of family, motherhood, and companionship, presented with a layer of polished (and at times avant-garde) production. No one ever said pop music had to be easy to listen to, but to the patient, this album is an immensely rewarding experience.”

– Michael C.

1. Mild High Club – Going Going Gone (Stones Throw)

“The best way to describe the new Mild High Club album, Going Going Gone is a chaotic good evolution from anything they’ve ever released before. They’ve drawn a clear line in the sand from their psychedelic pop past, and after their five year long pause, they’ve completely embraced the funk revolution… This entire album gives the feeling of a jam session with a friend going, going, gone right; there is no way to predict the next chord or the direction of the song whatsoever… this evolved sound will feel like a plunge into ice water, but once you get beyond the initial shock factor, the strong jazz influence on the instrumentals are incredibly impressive whilst maintaining the surreal feeling like you’re dreaming that is so prevalent in Timelines and Skiptracing.”

– Annabel O.

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