As another season draws to a close, I figure that rather than waiting until the year's end to talk about my favorite albums released within the year, I'd rather look back on what's come out of the last three months so nothing great is forgotten towards the end of the year, and hopefully I can turn you on to something that you may not have heard of before otherwise.

Without further ado,

 

20 - 11:

 

20. Prizes Rosa Rosa - To Fire Clay

[AU, Neo-Psych/Ambient]

 

19. Infant Island - Obsidian Wreath

[US, Screamo]

 

18. Loving - Any Light

[CA, Indie Folk/Pop]

 

17. twikipedia - Still-Life EP

[BR, Bedroom Pop]

 

16. Gouge Away - Deep Sage

[US, Post-Hardcore]

 

15. The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis (s/t)

[US, Jazz-Rock]

 

14. Laetitia Sadier - Rooting for Love

[FR, Art Pop]

 

13. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy

[GB, Indie/Glam Pop]

 

12. samlrc - A Lonely Sinner

[BR, Post-Rock]

 

11. Willi Carlisle - Critterland

[US, Progressive Country]

 

10 - 1:

 

10. Bill Ryder-Jones - lechyd da

[GB, Chamber Folk/Pop]

 

One of my first listens of the year, this lush record at its peaks is as sonically explosive as The Soft Bulletin while being as somber as an Elliott Smith or a Silver Jews record. Also had no idea until writing this review that Ryder-Jones is a founding member of The Coral, a band I haven't gotten around to checking out, though it looks like that'll need to change.

 

[FT: I Know That It’s Like This (Baby)]

 

9. Brittany Howard - What Now

[US, Psychedelic Soul]

 

After "History Repeats" from Howard's debut solo record lodged itself permanently into my brain since I first heard it, I'm happy to say that the Alabama Shakes' frontwoman really delivered with this new record of hers. Lots of different flavors expressed throughtout and done really well the whole way through.
 

[FT: I Don't]

 

8. Friko - Where we've been, Where we go from here

[US, Indie Rock]

 

Following the disbanding of frontman Niko Kapetan's last band Thee Marquees, he keeps the band's Luke Stamos and recruits Bailey Minzenberger of Free Range to form Friko as a trio outfit in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago. Five years after their formation, they finally bring us this explosive and fiery debut, filled with passion, energy, and beauty.

 

[FT: Get Numb to It!]

 

7. Uranium Club - Infants Under the Bulb

[US, Art Punk]

 

I admit, I'm late to join the Minneapolis Uranium Club train. Missing out on their first two full-lengths, I didn't know what to expect from this unsuspecting release, but whatever expectations I had I'm glad to say were surpassed. Admittedly, a lot of my enjoyment from this release comes due to their similarities in sound and style to bands such as Wire, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, and maybe even some Sun City Girls (although that last one is probably a stretch). Still, it's a sound I love and it makes me happy to see bands continuing on in this style in the modern age.

 

[KT: 2-600-LULLABY]

 

6. The Smile - Wall of Eyes

[GB, Art Rock]

 

With a band featuring Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood as a bulk of the personnel, it's hard not to be overly critical of any flaws that arise when the standard can be considered nothing short of greatness. I admit that this record doesn't have songs as strong for me as some of what they have to offer on their debut, but it seems like this record takes a more fully-realized approach, coming together as a whole cohesive unit rather than just a batch of tracks. I will say, my three favorite tracks on here are the only ones available to listen to for free on bandcamp, so do with that info what you will I guess.

 

[FTs: Friend of a Friend, Bending Hectic]

 

5. Clown Core - Live

[US, Clowncore]

 

Now don't get me wrong, Clown Core is a band that certainly isn't for everyone. But unless you're not already a fan and find yourself curious and wondering where to start, look no further. The tracks on here span their entire released catalogue so far, and there's a "natural" flow from track to track due to its live element. Oh yeah, it's brutal too, but even tracks like Tears 1 can showcase the duo's softer, more melodic side. Also in case you were wondering, yes, that's Louis Cole you're hearing.

 

[FTs: Flat Earth, Computers, Hell]

 

4. Memory Cell - Holding Onto It EP

[Indie/Math Rock]

 

https://www.thevoidzoo.com/memory-cell-ep-review

 

3. Tapir! - The Pilgrim, Their God and the King of My Decrepit Mountain

[GB, Indie Folk-tronica]

 

Just like Friko, Tapir! was also formed in 2019 and are just now releasing their debut full-length record, although this one feeling like a more ambitious offering, split up into 3 acts, 2 of which were available as individual EPs in the months leading up to the album's release. I listened to the whole record record in a single sitting one morning while at work, and was immediately grabbed from the start. And then once the "first" song comes on, we're met by a wonderful marriage of this fast-paced drum machine groove paired with a beautiful strums from a nylon-string guitar and the whole track ascends from there. Pastoral fits in somewhere here too as an adjective. Don't miss out on this one.

 

[FTs: On A Grassy Knoll (We'll Bow Together), Mountain Song]

 

2. Quadeca - Scrapyard

[US, Experimental Hip Hop/Alt R&B]

 

Quadeca's newest mixtape sounds like if Slauson Malone happened to walk into a collaborative session between BROCKHAMPTON and Frank Ocean during the recording sessions for "Blond". Maybe? In any case, I'd love to hear any other examples of songs in this style that are produced in a more daring, textured, and emotive fashion. Absolutely wild to consider that his prior mixtape was released 9 years ago, less than a third of his lifetime, while he was still mainly known for making FIFA videos on YouTube. Also bear in mind these are just leftovers from another project he's working on, one I'm definitely looking forward to hearing.

 

[FTs: Guess Who?, Texas Blue]

 

1. Mikko Joensu - Long Ark

[FI, Chamber Pop, Indie Folk]

 

The only double album on this list and first I've heard to have come out this year, Long Ark is the first album released by Mikko Joensuu outside of his "Amen" trilogy. At only 10 tracks with an over 80-minute runtime, Long Ark's songs definitely take their time getting into whatever pocket they land in, and not rushing to settle. In turn, each song's atmosphere gently unfurls creating a genuinely beautiful landscapes within the album's world. 

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

Grande Mahogany - As Grande As

[FI, Psychedelic Funk/Rock]

 

Chalk - Conditions II EP

[GB, Dance Punk]

 

abriction - Banshee

[US, Blackgaze]

 

Red Grasshoppers - Quiet Commotion

[SE, Slowcore, Indie Rock]

 

~

 

And of course, the thoughts and opinions expressed herein are strictly my own. Please don’t take my word as gospel. I encourage you to listen to the music mentioned here in this review for yourself and form your own opinions. Not everything is for everybody, but there’s always something for everyone.

Thanks for reading.