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IN REVIEW: 2018 Catch-Up Time, Part 1

Between work, all of the changes in my personal life and the fact that time refuses to slow down for anyone, a lot of records fell through the cracks this year. This post is an attempt to play catch-up in a way that allows me to say a few words about most of the stuff I've neglected in 2018 but also won't take me until Christmas to complete.

As you'll see, not everything in this list was bad or uninteresting; I simply didn't get around to doing proper reviews on these albums for one reason or another. Anyway, the more time I waste explaining why I didn't review things, the less time I have to review things. So, let's review things.

AWOLNATION
Here Come the Runts

February 2, 2018 • Red Bull
Highlights Here Come the Runts • Passion • Handyman

More off-kilter pop/rock from the Sail hitmakers; their third record is a little scattershot but, when it comes together as beautifully as it does on the title track, it's pure fun to listen to.



FRANZ FERDINAND
Always Ascending

February 9, 2018 • Domino
Highlights Always Ascending • Paper Cages • Feel the Love Go

On their fifth record, Franz Ferdinand have decided that the cure for a band with waning popularity is to go pretty much disco. While this results in a few fun moments, it results in more presses of the skip button.

CAR SEAT HEADREST
Twin Fantasy

February 16, 2018 • Matador
Highlights Beach Life-In-Death • Bodys • Cute Thing

Perhaps to temper heightened expectations after releasing the brilliant Teens of Denial in 2016, Will Toledo decided not to follow it up just yet, choosing instead to rerecord a fan favourite album from 2011, which places Twin Fantasy in the dubious position of being neither a reissue or a new album. Anyway, it's pretty good.


ANDREW W.K.
You're Not Alone

March 2, 2018 • Bee & El/Sony

Highlights:
Music Is Worth Living For
I Don't Know Anything
The Devil's On Your Side

Just how motivational is Andrew W.K.'s latest album? How about THREE spoken-word motivational monologues? That's how motivational this record is. It's not particularly good, but it is fun to listen to. Party on.

(Part 2, covering April to June, will be posted soon.)


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