5. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d city
Carefully constructed hip-hop production helmed by Lamar’s confident, languid flow and – most importantly – a distinct personality shining through.
Highlight: Good Kid
4. Graham Coxon – A+E
Until this album, I’d assumed I loved Blur thanks to Damon Albarn. A+E, filled with jagged, fuzzy guitar pop and a lot of good ideas, revealed that essentially everything I like about Blur is thanks to this guy. Recommended.
Highlight: What’ll It Take
In my review, I described this album as a journey through a labyrinth, matching its gloomy, claustrophobic electronica. I’ve since seen someone else describe this as “haunted house” music and that’s a much better fit – flashes of light in the dark, rickety carts jerking around a disquieting maze, exciting and frightening all at once.
Highlight: Insulin
2. Moonface – With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery
Spencer Krug’s earlier work as Moonface was a little too experimental for my tastes, but he’s back to his best here, with this abstractly compelling emotional journey.
Highlight: Shitty City
1. The Presets – Pacifica
Pacifica is a modern noir classic: ichor-stained city streets; streetlights of shiny electro-pop engulfed by a haze of sullen machismo. Their best yet.
Highlight: A.O.
(Part One can be found here)
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