I think the hardest thing about doing an exercise like this in late April is that you know while you’re writing it that it’s going to age extremely poorly; but I don’t mind being wrong, honestly. I guess it’s not worth thinking too hard about at this point. Well, let’s talk about some music again! 

Honestly, there haven’t been a ton of high-profile releases this year. Well, I guess we still have had some pretty big and anticipated releases. Last year kind of skewed my consciousness there, given how much insane music was released. Most of the music I liked and listened to so far is from lesser-known artists, which I’m trying to convey without sounding pretentious, so I’ll make sure we talk about some of the bigger releases. Let’s talk about my top 5 thus far this year. 

Fleeting Memories, FTLFRAME

Atmospheric Drum & Bass, Liquid Drum

Indie Rock, Shoegaze, Post-Rock

When I first was beginning to realize that, oh yeah, I’m like, queer, my best friend introduced me to Jungle. The music genre, she didn’t drag me into an actual jungle. I had never really been a fan of Jungle, or stuff like Drum and Bass and strictly instrumental electronic music—but over time, these genres became a kind of calming presence. To this day, whenever I feel like I want to explode emotionally, or just need to relax, I listen to this stuff. The vast majority of the music that fits into that sphere is from the mid-2000s—some younger and some older—but very rarely have I stumbled upon a Drum and Bass album as recent as this one, and as good as this one. Ftlframe has somehow just randomly made some of the most ethereal music I have ever heard, and I don’t use that word lightly. It’s tremendous. Admittedly, I don’t think this is some kind of all-rounder that everyone can enjoy, but I just love this so much. 

Serene Demon, Art d’Ecco

Glam Rock

New Wave

This rocked. It’s honestly kind of weird to me that Glam Rock works this well in this day and age, but good God, Art d’Ecco manages to make it work. I used to watch this mystery cop show with my dad called Bosch. It was on Amazon Prime, I think? Good show. Anyway, I think a lot of this album sounds like music in that show, or like the Man from U.N.C.L.E. or something. It’s got this mystery and unsettling feeling to it that is really hard to convey, but Art d’Ecco makes it seem easy. Mersault’s Walk in particular sounds like the theme song to some stupid New York detective show. It’s fantastic. 

MAYHEM, Lady Gaga

Dance-Pop, Electropop 

Pop Rock, Nu-Disco, Synthpop

Well, I said we’d get to some of the big releases. It was going to be hard for me to hate this, and well, it’s easily my third favorite album, and I’m not surprised at all. I’ve talked to a bunch of people who have problems with this album—the tracks are just so disjointed, too radio-built; etc. God. I don’t care. I do think she left some of the gas in the car, so to speak, but even then, this album is a super good project. It feels like a more mature version of some of her older work, if that makes sense? There’s little I can say that hasn’t already been said about Lady Gaga, but she remains a timeless creator of music. I wish she made music more often, honestly. 

Revengeseekerz, Jane Remover 

Digicore, Experimental Hip Hop, Electronic Dance Music

Rage, Hyperpop, Hard Dance, Bass House, Industrial Hip Hop, Hardcore [EDM]

So. I’m using RYM for the genres and sub-genres. They have these descriptive words for how to describe the music within the album, and the first one for Revengeseekerz is “chaotic.” I don’t think there’s any other word to describe this. I’d never listened to Jane Remover before, so this was quite the introduction to them. God, they’re younger than me. What am I doing with my life? This album is just a chaotic ride of rage and destruction, and I think the rage part is done especially well, given it kinda makes you want to mosh just by yourself. I really, really, really, really, really want to see them live. Y’all better pray for that. Psychoboost, also, top 3 songs of the year so far. Well worth a listen as well. 

This Won’t Be the Last Time, acloudyskye

Indie Rock, Noise Pop

Post-Rock, Indietronica, Shoegaze, Post-Punk Revival 

For whatever reason, this year seems to be the year of really good, weird, noise pop. Not really sure if there’s something specific that’s causing that, but it might be a recession indicator. Let’s hope not? I think there are bigger recession indicators to talk about, anyway. acloudyskye’s album here is the king of the noise pop albums this year, and it does not disappoint. I’d liken it to FTLFRAME, but it is noticeably different, sonically, and in runtime. They are similar, yet different, but both are incredibly ethereal projects that really just make me feel like I’ve grown wings, or something. Who doesn’t enjoy that feeling? 

Honorable Mentions 

Equus Asinus, Men I Trust 

Bedroom Pop, Indie Folk 

It feels like a lot of people didn’t like this as much as I did. Oh well. Men I Trust remains my second favorite musical artist from Quebec. [Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Men I Trust, Celine Dion, then Arcade Fire in case you were curious.] 

SALVATION, Rebecca Black

Electropop, Dance-pop, Electronic Dance Music

Ok, at least let me explain myself first. I would imagine some of you reading this are only familiar with the Rebecca Black who is known for, uh, other music, but this is so dramatically different from that stuff that if I played this to you without telling you who it was made by, you’d never be able to tell. If it weren’t for Lady Gaga releasing MAYHEM, this would easily be the best Dance-pop album of the year. 

20., shteppi 

Indie Pop, Hyperpop 

I loved this. If I had to rank something at number six, it would probably be this or SALVATION, but I’m giving this the edge. There’s not a ton of uniformity to this album, which you can probably figure out given the two genres listed, but I’m not one to care about that kind of stuff anyway. Shteppi is a fantastic musician, looking forward to hearing more from her. 

11100011, Asian Glow 

Noise Pop, Indietronica, Shoegaze

Here’s another funky Noise Pop album. Incidentally, maybe the first album I listened to and reviewed this year—which is kind of impressive, considering how much I moved around these albums while actively reviewing and listening. I would also call this ‘lofi emo’. Fantastic listen. 

Surprisingly Good 

F*ck U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol But Ur Not!! <3, Skrillex

Hybrid Trap, Brostep, Dubstep

Brostep is……alive!??? I’m as surprised as you are. This is a LOT better than you think, especially if you have enjoyed Trap or dubstep in the past, and as those people know, this genre has taken a turn for the worse as we began to enter the 2010s and 2020s. This project is really Skrillex at his best – destructive, methodical, hypnotic – also, really funny. I think he’s back. This, by the way, is what I meant by a bigger recession indicator. 

So Close to What, Tate McRae and Ruby, 제니 [Jennie] 

Contemporary R&B, Dance Pop, and Contemporary R&B, Pop 

I’m going to group these two because I had a similar reaction when I listened. I had never been a very big Tate McRae fan—more of a hater to be honest, and I have never really been a huge KPop enjoyer, but it’s not like I’m actively avoiding the genre or anything. Just had never been a huge fan. I don’t think either of these projects is perfect, but they were, at times, really electric and, honestly, overall great listens. Absolutely surprised me for the better. 

Surprisingly Bad

The Human Fear, Franz Ferdinand 

Indie Rock

If you want to retain mostly good memories of Franz Ferdinand, do not listen to this. Like, I didn’t have high expectations, but this is still surprisingly bad in my eyes. I’m still not sure what in God’s name Cats was. I welcome any and all explanations. 

$ome $exy $ongs 4 U, Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR

Trap Soul, Alternative R&B

I know it’s easy to drag Drake these days, but I mean, Jesus, this was bad. Honestly, before ‘The Beef’, I didn’t even mind PARTYNEXTDOOR, but he just gets completely cannibalized on this album, which at this point seems to be a common theme with Drake collaboration projects. It just feels like he’s not trying. There are flashes; like most people, I liked Nokia, but the rest of the album just feels like half-hearted slop. I guess this is just what Drake is now. Fun.