104. Fate & Alcohol by Japandroids - 9.3

-If this is really the end for epic post-rockers Japandroids then it is a glorious end.

105. Rack by The Jesus Lizard - 5.9

-This wonderfully named band returns from a long exile and attempts to bring their sludgey 90s noise rock with them. The results are mixed, but I'll take them over no results at all.

106. The Great Impersonator by Halsey - 5.5

-I love Hal and hate to give her a bad review ... but despite the ambitious premise, the only person she seems to impersonate on all songs is a lesser version of herself from the Manic era. Definitely the biggest disappointment of the year. And not just because Hal's last album, If I Can't Have Love I Want Power was a modern masterpiece, but because the singles leading up to this album were actually really good. Ego, Lucky, Lonely Is The Muse, Panic Attack - these are great songs, and if this was a shorter album they would be enough to carry it to the 7-8 range. Yet the album is 18 songs, 66 minutes, and there's just way too much desert in between the few oasis'.

107. Cartoon Darkness by Amyl and the Sniffers - 7.2

-Amyl is very consistent. The album is always good, but never enough for them to become one of my favorites. But I'm glad that at least one riotgirl punk band has strong representation from critics atleast.

108. Pacific Highway Music by Skeggs - 7.9

-Some cool Australian jam banders here and I bet the songs sound even better live.

109. Guided Tour by High Vis -8
110. Son of a Broken Man by Fantastic Negrito - 7

111. Only One Mode by Speed* - 7.3

-Is it too early to be nostalgic for Charlie Sheen's public meltdown from 10-15 years ago?

112. Songs Of A Lost World by The Cure - 9

I heard some of these days at their live shows last year and, not knowing they had a new album on the way, assumed they were some long lost classic deep cuts. And that ... is just about the best compliment for an old guy legacy album aint it?

113. From Zero by Linkin Park - 8

-The album starts really hot with Emptiness Machine, Heavy is the Crown and Casualty being the top tracks. I was thinking "album of the year here we go!" Then theres a few slow songs, an anagram and then its over. I know alot of my aoty contenders are also short (3/4 of my frontrunners are just as short if not shorter), but From Zero really had an epic feel to it that just kinda fizzles.

All that being said, getting ANY new good Linkin Park songs is a miracle that I will be forever grateful for. Chester's suicide took one of my all time favorites and just made them depressing af for quite a long time. I don't feel sad while listening to them anymore and thats more important than any one album. Again, that it turned out to be actually really good is the best bonus ever.

Afro House ofc

114. Negative Spaces by Poppy - 9.8

-Poppy has had a lot of different forms, going from jpop to nxt rock to punk-pop to hyperpop. Makes her discography always worthwhile as it can hit any vibe you're after. However, metalcore Poppy (fresh from hanging out with Knocked Loose) is thus far the very best form. It sounds like the album I wanted from Bring Me The Horizon ... and then what do ya know, the producer is Jordan Fish who helped BMTH make their last four records (and split with Olli before this new one that I didn't really like.) Poppy nails both the screams and clean vocals as well as anyone native to the genre. All the songs are great, but anyone interested should start with "The Cost of Giving Up" or "New Way Out" before moving on to the heavier stuff like "All Around Us", "Nothing" or the balls to the walls "The Centers Falling Out."

115. Seven Hours After Violet by Seven Hours After Violet* - 7.3

-This is the side project of the bassist from System of a Down ... or maybe its the drummer ... its one of the guys who isn't Serj or Darren. First off; cool band name. Second; the lead song Paradise is probably as good, if not better than anything the other dudes put out in their solo projects. The rest of album is fine, but also just made me want System to come back full time.

116. VII by Chrissy Costanza - 5.5

-Not sure why Chrissy made this a solo album when it sounds pretty similiar to what Against the Current has been doing lately, but its still always nice to hear her voice.

117. GNX by Kendrick Lamar - 9.9

-AKA victory lap: the album. I can see why some people might be underwhelmed by Kendrick doing a whole album full of bangers from Jack Antonoff as opposed to his usually socially conscious style, but this is something I've always wanted to hear from him and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time. He deserves a bangers album after the year he's already had.

118. Evergreen by Soccer Mommy - 6.5
119. Scheduled Explosions by 2nd Grade - 6
120. You Only Die 1nce by Freddie Gibbs - 7
121. I Lay Down My Life For You by JpegMafia - 7.9

Pretty much done for the year as far as new releases go, though theres always a chance at another surprise like gnx.