SLUG TOP 💯

This record is filled with delectable neo-gaze. I've been following Brendan Dyer's projects for over a decade now, starting with Furnsss, but this is some of his best work. "Talking Secret" is my favorite track. Check out this excellent live performance of a few of these tracks here.

This album feels like a warm blanket. It's filled with tales of heartbreak and self-discovery, as any good folk-tinged DIY rock album should be, but it feels so nice to hear. There's some interesting production here, too. "Hello Goodbye" sounds like an Oasis song, but if Oasis was actually a good band.. "Blue Disaster" is my favorite track.

I really love what Pinegrove did in the mid-2010s. They really did combine the best traits of Midwest emo, lofi folk rock, and Appalachian DIY in a relatable and accessible way. "Need 2" is definitely my favorite track; you've probably heard a clip of it on TikTok, if you're into that sort of thing. Their live stuff is great, although the track in this video isn't on this record, it's of the same era.

This record is the epitome of the post-Girlpool "sadgirl" indie rock movement of the late 2010s. I love the production on this album, and the instrumentation and lyrics are so perfect for what they were going for (IMHO). My favorite tracks are "Caterpillar" and "Belong on the Bed," the latter being one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard.

This was a formative record for my teenage brain. This is high quality, Brian Wilson revival rock'n'roll that hits all the right notes, and then some! Dude kinda sounds like the frontman for Green Day, which is a little weird. My favorite track is the obvious and iconic, "There Is No God."

Mr. Segall really ate with this record. This is some hard-as-nails, dirty, scuzzy lofi rock'n'roll that puts all the other similar records of its era to shame. I love the bookends of this album the best, "Finger" and "Alone."

One of the best jangle pop albums ever! I absolutely love this record from front to back. It just feels good to listen to. My favorite track is definitely "Metal Baby."

Holy shit, if you've never heard Betty, what the fuck are you doing? This is some of the hardest shit I've ever heard in my life. Produced by the same dude who did the bangin' Cypress Hill records, which is why the drums on this record sound so goddamn BEEFY. There's 808s layered under the live kick drum, for god's sake. "I Know" and "Speechless" are my favorites; some of my favorite drumming & drum production of all time.

Who doesn't love Frank? This is the saddest queer R&B you'll ever hear in your life. I love most of the songs on this album, but my favorites are "Forrest Gump" and "Super Rich Kids." The best moment on the album is that synth breakdown in "Pyramids" tho.

I love Jeff Rosenstock. He's one of like 5 musicians that seem like decent people. I love all his work (aside from Ska Dream, just can't get w/ that) but this one hits the hardest. "USA" and "9/10" are my favorites. The 9/10 video is awesome.

My introduction to Carti way back when. The front half of this album is just mindblowing, innovative stuff. "Yah Mean" is one of my favorite songs of all time.

My most-played album of 2017 by far, and definitely my favorite era of Kendrick Lamar. I love all his shit, but this is the perfect meeting of his cutting lyricism and bombast. My favorite is a tie between "PRIDE." and "LUST."

This is some primo IDM/ambient right here. This scratches my brain in the best way. My favorite record of 2024, hands down. My favorite track is "Venice."

This is THE greatest Marley record. The production is top-notch, and it's just full of love and spirit. My favorites are "Brain Washing" and "Stand Alone," the latter being one of my favorite songs of all time.

STL hyper-rap. This shit blew my mind. Favorite is a tie between "IPHONE" and "GETITRIGHTBACK". This dude is extremely prolific and has dozens of banger albums spanning many genres, but this one takes the cake for me.

Midwest indie emo at its absolute finest. Some of my favorite riffs, drum parts, and angsty lyricism of all time. These Minneapolis kids really did it to 'em. Every song is my favorite. Gun to my head favorite is either "Strawberita" or "Trying 2 Fool U."

I'm a big Don Toliver fan, and his newest album did not disappoint. Pretty damn solid all the way through. Five discs, four songs each, perfect way to section off all the different tracks. "BROTHER STONE" is my favorite track by far (FREE KODAK).

Playboi Carti really changed the game with this one. Filled with spastic, frenetic beats the whole way through. Feels like if mania could be healthy. Dude's a genius. "Control" is my favorite.

WOOZE really rip. They take all the best parts of '80s punk-adjacent nuwave and post-punk (even though there aren't many, in my opinion) and funnel it down into some of the most interesting rock'n'roll I've heard in the last 10 years. Really cool stuff, and they nail their whole band aesthetic. I recommend their music videos, as well. "Cousin Paul From Paddington" is my go-to track, but I actually think they're all my favorite.

A classic '60s must-listen. My dad and I used to put this record on and play Halo on our OG Xbox back in the day. My favorites are "Autumn's Child" and "Yellow Brick Road."

The finest modern Americana album that exists this side of the 21st century. Heartbreaking, riveting, and touching all the way through. Favorite track is "Elvis Presley Blues."

One of my favorite "Summer of Love" kinda records. This one reminds me of my grandma; she loved these songs. "I Call Your Name" is my favorite track.

Excellent house music. I eat up anything Kah-Lo does, but this record is it for me. "Ready to Make a Move" scratches my brain in all the right ways, but this is a no-skip album for me.

I was 16 when this record came out. You can imagine how many times I cried to it. It still kinda hits today; it's good shit. "400 Lux" and "Ribs" are the obvious favorites here.

A very "vibey" electronic album from one of the Shears brothers, I don't even remember which one. It seems pretty ahead of its time in terms of "indie" music; I feel like a lot of stuff in 2018/2019 sounded like this album. This is a great record I can just put on in the background and zone out to. "Seasick" is my favorite.

PWR BTTM is big fat cancelled (and what band isn't tbh, musicians suck) but I love this record, as well as its follow up, "Pageant." You've probably seen their NPR Tiny Desk. "Nu 1" is my favorite track here if you pick one.

This album makes me feel like I might be descending into mania every time I listen to it. It's excellent proof that not every rock band needs a guitarist. "The Apple" is my personal favorite.

My favorite Sabbath album since I can remember the first time I listened to Sabbath (over two decades now). Thanks dad for force feeding me all the good ones at age 4! "Supernaut" is my favorite track, but I love that classical guitar instrumental bullshit, too.

As the child of a guitarist dad, I am obligated to love stoner rock. I was raised to love Kyuss but, much to my father's dismay, I loved Queens of the Stone Age far more. This album is fucking awesome. "You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar..." is the best album opener to a rock album ever.

of Montreal has a huge discography, a lot of which I don't dig, but this album is just sweet-as-honey. It's definitely the kind of album you'd bootleg onto a cassette and give to your sweetheart in 2001. My favorite track is, "When You're Loved Like You Are."

Some good 'ol Swedish lo-fi bubblegum pop that absolutely melts in your ears. "Yummi 1" is my favorite, but it's an amazing record front-to-back.

The best breakup album of all time. This shit could not be more perfect. This album is a perfect snapshot of late-20s angst. Listen to the whole thing; I can't even pick a favorite.

I heard the debut of "Just Dance" on the radio when I was 11 or 12 and my life was never the same. I still have my CD of this record, and you bet your ass I still listen to it. This was the best pop music of the 2000s, hands down. And that's saying something because I absolutely hate most synth pop. Also it's so gay which I also love, as a gay. My favorite track is "Alejandro" which also has an excellent music video.

Greatest record of the 20th century? Probably. Listen to the mono mix like Brian Wilson intended, not those gimmicky "ultra stereo remastered twice over" renditions. My favorite track is "I'm Waiting For The Day."

Green Day at their peak. The perfect bridge between their earlier records and the 2000s poppier stuff. I absolutely worshipped this record for a solid portion of my adolescence, and rightly so. Tracks 4 & 5 ("Redundant" and "Scattered") are my favorite moment from the record.

My favorite Arctic Monkeys record. I love every track. Say what you will about the Tumblr-era Britpop and its simplicity, but I think this shit rips. I also love "Suck It and See" but it's just not as cohesive as this album. My favorite track is "Fire And The Thud."

A childhood favorite. I used to play this CD every night when I went to bed. It's a truly far-out record that brings me immense joy, but it also kinda scares me. "Are You A Hypnotist?" is my favorite track.

The best album to come out of that grunge-era bullshit. I prefer this record far more than any of the other notables of the time like Nevermind (Nirvana), Ten (Pearl Jam), or whatever. "Would?" is the best song on the record.

The Chicks are one of my favorite bands of all time, and this is my favorite record from them. They're all pretty good, but this bluegrass shit is just unmatched. This is their best album, by far. My favorite track is "White Trash Wedding" because it's hilarious.

I remember thinking this shit was so weird when it released, but in a good way. The perfect homage to all the bros who grew up on old Kanye, but not in a straight rip-off way. It's interesting, sounds good as hell, and is bangin' all the way through. My favorite tracks are "coordinate" and "guidance."

My favorite modern rap record. Perfect ethereal-ass beats, the best choice in features, and just an all-around raging ass time. Travis can't top this one. "CAN'T SAY" is one of my most-played tracks of all time.

If you found yourself saying, "I miss the old Kanye" in 2016: shut up, grow up, and listen to this record over and over until it's permanently etched into your brain. My favorite track is probably "Freestyle 4" or "Waves."

Biggest heater of a mixtape I've heard in decades. I love this record. "AMG" is the perfect song to whip around a shitbox with subs.

My favorite Don Toliver record, aside from HARDSTONE PSYCHO. It's polished, it's got crazy fuckin' synths, and it bangs the whole way through. "I Can't Feel My Legs" is my favorite track; the synths in that song will melt your brain.

A follow-up to my favorite record of all time that is just as good, if not better? The stars truly aligned for my interests on this record. "Big City Boys" is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life.

My favorite album of all time, hands down. It makes me more emotional than any other piece of art. Ryan is a goddamn genius. "Highly Unintentional" is one of the greatest songs of all time.

Nirvana goes pop punk? I think that I could arrange this entire album from memory with how many times I've listened to it. My favorite track is, "That's On Me."

I had this shit on repeat my freshman year of college. This is lofi power pop at its finest and is too solid front-to-back. Great band to see live, too. Melted my face off. My favorite track is a toss-up between "Friday the 13th" and *"Don't You Think I Know?"

I was two months old when this album released, but I know I loved it then, too. My first full spoken sentence was actually, "change my pitch up, smack my bitch up." BIG BEAT LIVES FOREVER. Best track is ALL OF EM.