Band:Phoebe BrdigersAlbum: Lost WeekendBest song: “Bobby” and “Lost Boys”Worst song: “As Above,” maybe. It’s still very good. What is a normal relationship with an artist you admire? Artists of all stripes disappoint us all the time, from the smallness of … Continue reading
Band: SZA Album: SOSBest song: “Ghost in the Machine” is the best song of 2022. Worst song: “F2F” does not appeal to me A few weeks ago, Ben Gibbard projects Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service announced a … Continue reading
Band: Konvent Album: Call Down the SunBest song: “Harena,” “Fatamorgana” and “Grains” are amazing. Worst song: “Never Rest” is the weakest song on the album. What a year. The nature of the calendar is such that all these things are … Continue reading
Band: Taylor Swift Album: MidnightsBest song: The first three songs are all terrific. I like “Question…?” and “Bejeweled” a lot, too.Worst song: “Vigilante Shit” is extremely not my shit. I’ve written on this site twice about Taylor Swift, once in … Continue reading
Band: ShellacAlbum: At Action ParkBest song: “The Admiral” is one of my favorite Shellac songsWorst song: Nah. Of the people I’ve admired most in music, Steve Albini is definitely near the top. He is not without pretense, of course, but … Continue reading
Band: Yeah Yeah YeahsAlbum: Cool It DownBest song: “Wolf” and “Spitting Off the Edge of the World”Worst song: “Mars.” I do not have kids. I’ve gone over this fact in this space before (and if you know me personally, you’ve … Continue reading
Band:Cult of Luna and Julie ChristmasAlbum:MarinerBest song: “Cygnus” is a perfect, epic song.Worst song:”Approaching Transition” is the weakest song, but it’s very good (sorry, I almost only write about records I like). What’s beyond the next mountain? What lies among … Continue reading
Band:Mutoid ManAlbum:War MoansBest song:“Melt You Mind” and “Wreck and Survive”Worst song:the song itself is good, but the lyrics to “Date with the Devil” are kinda dumb. Genre is a tough thing to tackle and it is a deeply ~inside~ experience … Continue reading
Band: Mizmor & ThouAlbum:MyopiaBest song:“Subordinate” is one of the best songs of 2022. Worst song:I like “Manifold Lens” some, but it’s the weakest on the record. I probably listen to too many overt Christians’ music. I’m a fairly observant secular … Continue reading
Band: Lingua IgnotaAlbum:CALIGULABest song:“DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR”Worst song:I guess “FUCKING DEATHDEALER” is the weakest, but it is very good A lot of albums have come out in the 11 months since I last wrote in this space, including plenty … Continue reading