-El Michels Affair

El Michels Affair & Black Thought-Glorious Game

It’s hard to believe that Black Thought’s indomitable Cheat Codes was only released LAST AUGUST. The album that cemented his place in the list of all-time great emcees is only 8 months old. On the follow up, Glorious Game, Black Thought works with New York cinematic soul collective El Michels Affair, led by Leon Michels, for another top-rate hip-hop experience. The live band adds a richer dimension to the soul soundscape that Black Thought played with on Cheat Codes. And although the beats on Glorious Game may be a little slower, it’s more immersive and urgent experience. If Cheat Codes was Black Thought’s bid into the collective consciousness for greatest of all time, then Glorious Game should cement that status. Read my full review HERE. Stream Glorious Game HERE.

Jesus Piece–…So Unknown

The first track on Jesus Piece’s new album …So Unknown gave me instant stank face. The good kind. The kind that wants to throw my 37-year-old body into the pit with total disregard for life and limb (and I have arthritis so I would definitely die). According to their drummer, this album is supposed to give listeners the closest experience to seeing the band live. And if that’s true, then I’m both terrified and excited for when that will finally happen for me. …So Unknown might be the heaviest album released in 2023 so far. If you want a brutal, visceral, out-of-body experience, stream …So Unknown HERE.

Metallica–72 Seasons

On 72 Seasons, Metallica double down on their thrash roots, a trend that started following their universally panned St. Anger (which was released 20 years ago). And why not? They don’t need radio play. They are easily the most successful metal band of all time. So they’re going to do what they do best. Which means chugging riffs, blistering solos, and James Hetfield growling out a thesaurus worth of rhyming words. They aren’t necessarily doing anything new here, but what they do they do very well. And for Metallica fans that is more than enough. 72 Seasons is a little long, at 77 minutes. Roughly five times longer than a modern hardcore album. But if you want to listen to some new, old-school thrash metal, you could do worse. Stream 72 Seasons HERE.

Waterparks–Intellectual Property

Houston pop-rock (emphasis on the pop) trio Waterparks have released their fifth album, Intellectual Property. And if streaming numbers are any indication, this is destined to be a big record in their discography. Lead single “Funeral Grey” has already racked up over 10 million streams on Spotify. The album is hyperactive in tone, jumping between different pop styles while maintaining a sheen ripe for the late era Warped Tour mainstage (if that still existed). Stream Intellectual Property HERE.

Kid Koala–Creatures of the Late Afternoon

To Kid Koala, turntables aren’t just a tool, they’re an instrument. And although he’s been in the game for a long time, he manages to find new avenues for developing the craft. On Creatures of the Late Afternoon, Kid Koala continues creating his unique style of experimental turntablism. On an interview with Dad Bod Rap Pod, he explained that he would record the individual tracks, then cut them to vinyl so that he could use the turntables to perfect the sound he was looking for. That’s true dedication. And if that wasn’t enough, the vinyl copy includes a board game, with bonus backing tracks to play along. Somehow, Kid Koala created the intersecting middle of a Venn diagram for vinyl nerds and board game nerds. I am in that demographic, and I’m here for it. Stream Creatures of the Late Afternoon HERE.