IN REVIEW: 2018 Catch-Up Time, Part 3
(This post is a continuation from the previous two "catch-up" posts, and covers albums I didn't get around to giving a proper review to in August and September.)
BLUE OCTOBER
I Hope You're Happy
August 17, 2018 • Up/Down
Highlights Daylight • I Want to Come Back Home • I Hope You're Happy
Remembered by most as the one-hit wonders behind 2006's Hate Me, Blue October has soldiered on to build a small but devoted fan base and an impressive resumé; I Hope You're Happy is their ninth album, and fourth to be fully funded by crowdsourcing. It also features some sharp songwriting and tasteful pop elements that could absolutely blindside listeners who have only heard Hate Me, but longtime fans will just smile and enjoy it like they have the other eight.
SLAVES
Acts of Fear and Love
August 17, 2018 • Virgin
Highlights Cut and Run • Magnolia • Chokehold
Scuzzy UK duo Slaves' third album finds them trimming the fat a bit (at nine tracks, it's far shorter than their previous two); it also finds them steering toward a more mature approach, exposing a beating heart beneath all the scowling, snarling and sarcasm.
METRIC
Art of Doubt
September 21, 2018 • MMI/BMG
Highlights Dark Saturday • Now Or Never Now • Art of Doubt
In a time when rock bands are clamoring to stay relevant by taking trips to the synthesizer store and layering pop onto their music in an effort to prevent stagnation, Metric have managed to keep themselves sounding fresh on their seventh record by bringing back guitars. Go figure.
BLUE OCTOBER
I Hope You're Happy
August 17, 2018 • Up/Down
Highlights Daylight • I Want to Come Back Home • I Hope You're Happy
Remembered by most as the one-hit wonders behind 2006's Hate Me, Blue October has soldiered on to build a small but devoted fan base and an impressive resumé; I Hope You're Happy is their ninth album, and fourth to be fully funded by crowdsourcing. It also features some sharp songwriting and tasteful pop elements that could absolutely blindside listeners who have only heard Hate Me, but longtime fans will just smile and enjoy it like they have the other eight.
Acts of Fear and Love
August 17, 2018 • Virgin
Highlights Cut and Run • Magnolia • Chokehold
Scuzzy UK duo Slaves' third album finds them trimming the fat a bit (at nine tracks, it's far shorter than their previous two); it also finds them steering toward a more mature approach, exposing a beating heart beneath all the scowling, snarling and sarcasm.
NOTHING
Dance on the Black Top
August 24, 2018 • Relapse
Highlights Zero Day • Blue Line Baby • Us/We/are
Philadelphia shoegazers Nothing haven't really made drastic changes to their sound over the course of their four albums, but that's not exactly a bad thing; here, there are slight detours here and there, though nothing too far removed from what fans would expect.
Dance on the Black Top
August 24, 2018 • Relapse
Highlights Zero Day • Blue Line Baby • Us/We/are
Philadelphia shoegazers Nothing haven't really made drastic changes to their sound over the course of their four albums, but that's not exactly a bad thing; here, there are slight detours here and there, though nothing too far removed from what fans would expect.
WHITE DENIM
Performance
August 24, 2018 • City Slang
Highlights Magazin • Fine Slime • It Might Get Dark
On their seventh and shortest record, White Denim aren't straying too far from their good time jam-inspired rock; it's a little more jagged than their previous few, a slight return to their roots that will be welcoming to fans somewhat let down by their more polished records.
PIG DESTROYER
Head Cage
September 7, 2018 • Relapse
Highlights Army of Cops • The Torture Fields • The Last Song
It's sort of laughable to hear cries of "sellout" leveled at a grindcore band that's maintained their intensity but only used slightly slower tempos, and yet here we are. Maybe some people are just butthurt that Pig Destroyer's first album in six years didn't literally make their heads explode.
Performance
August 24, 2018 • City Slang
Highlights Magazin • Fine Slime • It Might Get Dark
On their seventh and shortest record, White Denim aren't straying too far from their good time jam-inspired rock; it's a little more jagged than their previous few, a slight return to their roots that will be welcoming to fans somewhat let down by their more polished records.
PIG DESTROYER
Head Cage
September 7, 2018 • Relapse
Highlights Army of Cops • The Torture Fields • The Last Song
It's sort of laughable to hear cries of "sellout" leveled at a grindcore band that's maintained their intensity but only used slightly slower tempos, and yet here we are. Maybe some people are just butthurt that Pig Destroyer's first album in six years didn't literally make their heads explode.
THRICE
Palms
September 14, 2018 • Epitaph
Highlights Only Us • The Grey • A Branch in the River
One would think that signing with revered punk label Epitaph would bring some fire back to Thrice's bellies, after their previous record found them bogging themselves down in slower tempos. The truth is, their ninth album is also their slowest and most subdued, save for a handful of tunes.
Palms
September 14, 2018 • Epitaph
Highlights Only Us • The Grey • A Branch in the River
One would think that signing with revered punk label Epitaph would bring some fire back to Thrice's bellies, after their previous record found them bogging themselves down in slower tempos. The truth is, their ninth album is also their slowest and most subdued, save for a handful of tunes.
METRIC
Art of Doubt
September 21, 2018 • MMI/BMG
Highlights Dark Saturday • Now Or Never Now • Art of Doubt
In a time when rock bands are clamoring to stay relevant by taking trips to the synthesizer store and layering pop onto their music in an effort to prevent stagnation, Metric have managed to keep themselves sounding fresh on their seventh record by bringing back guitars. Go figure.
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