January 2, 2019

Paul R's Top 12 Albums from 2018


 1. Clutch - Book of Bad Decisions             

Erstwhile Baltimore hard rockers add a little more swagger and soul to their proven formula.

2. TesseracT - Sonder    

TesseracT are clearly raised on Tool and progressive metal, turning out a smooth and groovy combination that is complex under the surface, like Steely Dan if they were millennial metal heads.

3. Ghost - Prequelle       

Ghost are the Def Leppard of satanic metal, and Prequelle has big choruses that aren't about sugar, photographs or untag glieben glauten globen.

4. John Escreet - Learn to Live   

Jazz pianist updates the best of 70s fusion, while still sounding 21st century.

5. Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit

Is there such a thing as Gospel Metal? Now there is.

6. Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want  

This is what industrial noise rock should be right now.

7. Laibach - The Sound of Music

It's Laibach, doing the Sound of Music. Only their cover of "Let It Be" is better.

8. Tõnu Naissoo Trio  
    
Re-release of a long-forgotten Estonian free jazz trio from the early 70s. Who knew the Estonians could swing like that?

9. Neneh Cherry - Broken Politics  
          
Decades after "Buffalo Stance" Neneh Cherry remains at the edge of new sounds.

10. Yob - Our Raw Heart            

Can stoner metal be heartbreaking?

11. Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love          

12. Devin Townsend Project - Ocean Machine Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv              

3 Comments:

awmercy said...

Gospel Medal? Intriguing. Subgenres are the best.

I love how your list is all over the map. Free jazz, Neneh Cherry, stoner metal back to back. Dang.

Did you see Deafheaven is playing with Baroness at Roseland this spring?

awmercy said...

I'm enjoying both Deafheaven and Zeal & Ardor. It's becoming clear I like very specific subgenres of metal. Thank you for doing my research for me.

awmercy said...

My Algiers, Young Fathers, and Zeal & Ardor mixtape is killing it today. Bout ready to start the revolution.