Sound Obsession

To borrow from a Brent Cobb album title, the dominant musical theme for me this year was "ain't rocked in a while."  Despite auditory excursions into electro, drum & bass, and country music, my craving for guitar riffage and six-string shredding was strong, and 2025 delivered.  Long time favorites like Deftones and Ghost returned with late career highlights while the next generation of Gen Z artists inspired by Gen X sounds - Doomsday, Die Spitz, and Rocket - picked up guitars and released outstanding debut albums. These are my top ten favorite albums of 2025, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Client_03:   Testbed_Assembly     (Client_03, 7/4/25) Electro has roots in krautrock, funk, and the cut-up rhythms of the nascent hip-hop scene - a cyborg groove built on 808s, synthesizers, and ...

These are my runners up and honorable mention albums of 2025, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Matt Daniel:   The Poet   (Banjo, 3/28/25)         Grin:   Acid Gods     (TLD, 5/30/25)     Kloke:   Lucidity     (Mindgames, 8/8/25)     James Shinra:   Meteorites     (Analogical Force, 4/25/25)     Technical Itch:   Fate Walker     (Over/Shadow, 2/7/25) Fate Walker by Technical Itch    Turnstile:   NEVER ENOUGH     (Roadrunner, 6/6/25) ...

Another tough year year done and gone.  At least we had some good albums to get us through.  These are my top ten favorite albums of 2021, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Blackberry Smoke:   You Hear Georgia     (3 Legged - 5/28/21) Atlanta country-rockers Blackberry Smoke returned in 2021 with their seventh studio album and a few guests in tow - underground country legend Jamey Johnson and Allman Brothers Band guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes.  A backyard barbecue and roadtrip classic in the making, You Hear Georgia was a constant for me this summer.   Vincent Neil Emerson:   Vincent Neil Emerson     (La Honda - 6/25/21) Following an excellent debut in 2019, East Texas native Vincent Neil Emerson leveled up this year.  Produced by Rodney Crowell, Emerson’s eponymously titled sophomore outing headed in a more introspective direction, covering the artist’s personal struggle with depression, hi...

These are my runners up and honorable mention albums of 2021, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Charley Crockett:  10 for Slim - Charley Crockett Sings James Hand     (Son of Davy - 2/26/21)   Charley Crockett:   Music City USA     (Son of Davy - 9/17/21)   Jesse Daniel:   Beyond These Walls     (Die True - 7/30/21)   Cody Jinks:   Mercy     (Late August - 11/12/21)   Quicksand:   Distant Populations     (Quicksand - 8/13/21)     The Steel Woods:   All of Your Stones     (Woods Music - 5/14/21)   Turnstile:   Glow On     (Roadrunner - 8/27/21)   Joshua Ray Walker:   See You Next Time     (State Fair - 10/8/21)   Wolf Alice:   Blue Weekend   (RCA - 6/4/21)   Yola:   Stand For Myself     (Easy Eye Sound - 7/30/21)

Usually this time of year I've got a couple dozen albums on heavy rotation.  So far in 2021, barely half that.  Despite a relatively slow first half of the year, with release dates and tour schedules only just now ramping back up after fifteen months of virtual lockdown, there are certainly a handful of bright spots on the album front. These are my favorites so far, with a few sure to make my end-of-year favorites list.   Enjoy. . . . - Will G  Bicep:   Isles   (Ninja Tune - 1/22/21) Blackberry Smoke:   You Hear Georgia   (3 Legged - 5/2/21) The Black Keys:   Delta Kream   (Nonesuch - 5/14/21) CLEOPATRICK:   BUMMER   (Nowhere Special - 6/4/21) Charley Crockett:   10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand   (Son of Davy - 2/26/21) Michigan Rattlers:   That Kind of Life   (Massasauga - 5/19/21) Royal Blo...