Couch Slut - Contempt
Megan Osztrosits has the stupefying shriek power to send creeps running for the hills, enough female fury to stand up to the lengthy-n-lurid sludge-punk her male bandmates firmly churn out. Right, so be assured "Folk Song" is very far from one and "Summer Smiles" certainly ain't no sunbeam. My general gripes are their tendencies to meander, linger, mutilate yer head via morosity -- but the segues that lead into melodic miracles or somehow up the aggression-ante make me glad they go there. Many-a band can pound ya into the ground with competent riffs+squeals+vigor, this one's no different. That raw inescapable rage tho; there's the true riveter. 7/10
DJ Orange Julius - The Grove
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Can't get enough of jittery loop-head disc jockeys, apparently -- DJ OJ's form of footwork is less fiery than TiGa's, less contained than Jayhood's, and eventually more stridently relentless than either of em. It kicks off with a triad of greatness that best showcases his mingling of busy+chill mix-work; the opulent opener/A.M. drug-ingestion anthem "Still Geekin'" and smooth-as-hell jovial joyride orchestration of "Skkrtt" particularly irresistible. Then in comes the 100mph r&b, the wistful vaporwave vibez, boasts of being a motherfuckin' G awkwardly cut with abrupt opera yelps, going overboard-n-quotidian on the voice bombardment and bass vs. blip contrast. A bit of a shaky head-rush crush when it comes down to it, but ooo what feet melting fun. 7.5/10
Jana Rush - Pariah
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Initial impression was an obscure 90s producer suddenly breaking the silence to jump on the Jlin train. Which I wouldn't say changed much after copious consumption, but JR does carve quite the twitchy niche of her own. Constant yet contained bass throb, bare and blippy, rather ruthless during the more random and rigid endeavors. Oft so busy being barraged you don't even notice most of em are just three mins and change. True kicker however is the varietal voice choppin': reiterations break-k-k-k-king your brain, accelerated alien utterances, old-timey soul singer's sweet turned yelly at the flip of a switch, etc. But for the record my likely favorite is both voiceless and letterless -- "??? ??", where Jungle Book jazz befriends bass-pad gone punk just a BIT too swimmingly; trippy trimmings and all. 8/10
Meek Mill - Wins & Losses
Went from cooking ray-men noodles to chowing down lobster, status as a legitimately impassioned MC overlooked for his taste in futile feuds, left to "fuck the baddest whores" following a split with Nicki Minaj/the star he'll never be, bout to begin a two-to-four in prison for violating parole: Meek knows something about wins & losses. And sure his shouty style can get shrill, but you gotta respect his refusal to be bogged down through the mess-o-guests -- resolute yet loose as ever, tricky wordsmith and hook-man when he wants to be, grittily vivid but perhaps too often gross or greedy or generic. Overt obstacle is how overstuffed it is, undeniable are the load of lavish beats and handful of true-blue bangers. Best Of Mess-O-Guests: Rick Ross and Quavo for ensuring true-blue bangers. Worst: Chris Brown and Verse Simmonds for feigning sensuality. Honorable Mention: Young Thug for most earnest display of emotion. 6.5/10
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Alvvays - Antisocialites 8/10 *******HIGHEST RECS*******
Bvdub - Epilogues for the End of the Sky 7.5/10 *******HIGHEST RECS*******
Coca Leaf - Deep Marble Sunrise 6/10
Mike Cooper - Raft 5/10
Pan Daijing - Lack 5/10
Garoted - Abyssal Blood Sacrifices 7/10
Iglooghost - Neo Wax Bloom 6/10 ///BRAV-FUCKING-O\\\
Integrity - Howling, for the Nightmare Shall Consume 8/10 **HIGHEST RECS**
Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet 5.5/10
Oceans Ate Alaska - Hikari ~*~meh~*~
Offa Rex - The Queen of Hearts 6.5/10
OG Maco - Children of the Rage 7/10
Red Axes - The Beach Goths 5.5/10
Steven Wilson - To the Bone ~*~meh~*~
Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun 6.5/10
Wolves in the Throne Room - Thrice Woven 6.5/10
