I have a love for film and music. This is a way to express that passion through writing about my two favorite art forms, and have fun while doing it. Hope you like what I write.
Bumblebee is a spin-off/prequel film in the Transformers franchise that focuses on, well, Bumblebee. Set in 1987, the film is about Bumblebee arriving on Earth and meeting an 18 year old girl named Charlie who he forms a bond with. Meanwhile, decepticons are arriving on Earth, creating a threat that only Bumblebee can stop. You know, at this point, the Transformers franchise is as hated as it gets. The first one does get a fair share of love, but the sequels... Not so much, at say the least. As for me, my relationship with the Transformers is a bit complicated. I grew up with the first Michael Bay-directed movie, and I still love it, despite its many shortcomings because of my nostalgia for it. I also really enjoyed the original 80s cartoon. Sure, it was just a series of product placements, but I didn't care; I was a kid when I watched those. As for the sequels to the 2007 movie though, it gets rough. I haven't even seen them because the clips I've seen are horrendous. Tasteless humor, awful acting, impossible to follow action, and a misunderstanding of the characters is only a taste of the terribleness to come from what I've seen. So, when I heard they were making a Bumblebee spin-off, I thought it would suck. I even remember when it was announced and I was face palming at the idea. However, everything leading up to this film looked surprisingly promising. Michael Bay was not directing, which was a good sign. However, the trailers sold me on this movie. It looked genuinely good and heartfelt, which was a major surprise to me. The critics also seemed to really like this once it came out, which can't be said for basically any other Transformers movie. Well, did we get it? The short answer; It finally happened. We got a great Transformers movie.
What makes this film so great is how refreshing it is for this franchise. This is a very different movie than what Michael Bay has done with this franchise in basically every way. While Michael Bay's movies in this franchise are annoying, overbloated, and tasteless, this film is funny, tightly paced, and well-made and well intended. Director Travis Knight did a great job in giving the movie a strong emotional foundation, despite the fact that this easily could have been a dumb action movie with no strong core. However, he gives it likable characters to root for as well as a story that's effective, even if it's not entirely original. It reminds me a bit of his previous film, Kubo and the Two Strings, which I actually didn't care for, but this film does what Kubo failed to do for me; Give a story with a great emotional core that, while predictable, is really effective. This is easily the best directed Transformers movie to date, and credit's due where credit's due.
The strongest point of this film is the friendship between Bumblebee and Charlie. It's heavily reminiscent of ET and films similar to that. It does come off a bit derivative, but their relationship is funny, heartfelt, and a perfect emotional core for the film. I believed every second that they were on screen together that this was a genuine friendship. Hailee Steinfeld is also excellent as Charlie, and is a big reason why she is easily the best human character in the franchise. She makes a character who could come off as cliche and boring into a unique and fun presence on screen. The script also packs a solid amount of depth for this character, making her a great character on her own terms.
Bumblebee himself is also great here. This is very much an origin story for this character, and a solid one at that. It explains everything you need to know quickly, but it doesn't gloss over any details; It's merely compacted really well. It makes you feel for him even outside of the cartoon or the first movie.
Speaking of which, this film reminds me heavily of the original cartoon from the 80s. While the other films feel like their own thing (Mostly for worse), this definitely feels like an adaptation of the original series. The tone is similar, the story feels like it could have been from the show, and the character designs and models feel like modern CGI versions of the original characters. This could have been forced down the viewer's throat in order to "apologize" for the previous films, but this just feels like the film's tone, and not a way to cash in a nostalgia; Like I said, this film feels genuine.
The action and effects are also very good. This isn't a super action-packed film, but when the action comes around, it is solid, especially the final showdown, which has some truly great moments. The effects throughout the film are great and they look better than ever, despite the film having a much smaller budget, which actually does the film favors because it can focus on less. This shows that the Transformers movies should have smaller budgets and a smaller scale. If they turn out like this and remain at least somewhat consistent in quality, this franchise has potential of getting back on track.
Now, while I love this movie, it is not without its issues. First off, some of the military stuff is a bit hit or miss here. It's the same in the franchises previous films, but here, its for different reasons. While the other films show off the military as incredibly patriotic, this film shows them off as cheesy, which works sometimes because it fits with the film's tone, but it doesn't work because the writing isn't as strong in these sequences. It's hard to describe without spoiling the movie, and I won't, but it just doesn't always work.
The two decepticon villains also didn't do much for me. They were fine I guess, and that's about where it ended. I didn't expect some top-tier villain work from this film, but personally I didn't find them to be very intimidating, even if they were a good physical match for Bumblebee.
Even these issues didn't bother me that much. They're notable, sure, but they didn't take much of my enjoyment away from the film. Overall, this is exactly what I wanted. This is the most satisfied I've been with a film since Avengers: Infinity War, and that says a lot. This technically isn't the greatest film of the year, but it's a great blockbuster with genuine soul and some good action. Fans of the Transformers movies, both the newer movies and the original cartoon, will no doubt be satisfied with this. It's everything you want in these movies. Even if you're not attached to these movies in any way, this is the best in the series and since it's a prequel, you don't have to do much research into the series to "Get it". I will admit I have a bit of bias because of my Transformers nostalgia, but this is one of my favorite movies of the year for sure, and it's a good sign for this series to come.
Well, the year's just about wrapped up at this point. This year, there was so many great albums. Seriously, there was. Not everything was good of course, but there was plenty to praise. Throughout the year, there was great album after great album released, and I'm going to count off my 10 favorites this year. With each entry, and that includes my honorable mentions, I will leave a link of a track that I feel represents the album well, so if one of these albums interest you, you can get a rough idea of what the album sounds like. Also, keep in mind this is my opinion, and if you disagree for whatever reason, that's great! Different opinions are the best opinions (My ranking has bias for genres I like). With that said, let's start with the 5 honorable mentions...
Bad Wolves - Disobey (Groove Metal)
The debut album from metal-core/groove metal outfit Bad Wolves left a pretty strong impression on me. This thing is heavy and energized like on the opener Officer Down, it can have solid "lighter" metal on No Masters, and it strikes some nice calmer moments like Remember When and The Cranberries cover Zombie. It does drag a bit towards to end and leaves me with a few skippable tracks, which is why it missed out on the actual list. Still, an impressive debut that shows much potential.
Father John Misty - God's Favorite Customer (Singer Songwriter/Soft Rock)
If I was basing this whole list on lyrical content entirely, this would be an easy lock for the top 10, but since I'm also judging this on every part of the music, this misses the mark. Still, shining moments are found throughout the record, like on the self-aware and often hilarious Mr. Tillman, the thoughtful The Songwriter, and the gorgeous title track. It's very well-made, but its instrumentals are too similar to warrant a spot in the top 10, a problem singer-songwriters seem to run into. However, this record is so earnest and well-made that it deserves a mention.
Look, this album is incredibly cheesy, but I got a kick out of it. It's a metal core album based on horror movies, how can you not love that? There are a few songs that cross the line of being too cheesy for my taste, and it can come off as a sort-of gimmick, but this band is not one that relies solely on a gimmick; They're genuinely very talented musicians that know how to create an infectious, heavy rhythm with great break-down that fit naturally into a song. Highly recommended. Just keep in mind it's both cheesy and very heavy.
Well, this is a bit different than what you've seen so far, right? Well, I really enjoyed this record! The production is top notch, the verses are really strong, and it has some great hooks. It's not on the main list because this one didn't quite connect with me as it did some people, and there is another album similar to this that I loved more that may or may not be on the main list.
Estrons - You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough (Punk/Pop)
Of all these honorable mentions, this is the one I'm most upset didn't make the main list. Estrons with this record have proven themselves a really great pop/punk act with this great debut record (Not like Blink-182 or Green Day pop-punk; Think traditional punk with pop sensibilities and female vocals). This album is explosive and fun throughout its short run time, and one of my more revisited of the year. The reason its not on the main list is because a few of the tracks are too similar and the variety in these tracks isn't ideal. For the most part, however, this is a good thing and I dig the crap out of it. This is super overlooked, so absolutely check it out if this sounds up your alley.
Okay, now its time to move on to the main list, starting with number 10.
10. Underoath - Erase Me (Rock/Metalcore)
Talk about a comeback. After an almost ten year stretch of releasing no albums, Underoath returns with an amazing set of industrial rock and metal. Across the board, this album is ferocious, intense, and well-preformed. Spencer Chamberlain's vocals, both clean and unclean, are great and Aaron Gillespie's drumming is some of the best I've heard all year (I appreciate good drumming, since I'm a drummer myself). Also, if you think this band is still Christian, think again. There's plenty of themes around that, but there's several curse words dropped throughout, but not to sound tough; They make sense and don't take away from the album. However, problems come in with the mix. The mix on this record is murky and weak, which is why it isn't higher. Still, this record is a brutal mix of basically everything I love about mainstream rock. It Has To Start Somewhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LswEN0icdj0
9. Andrew W.K. - You're Not Alone (Hard Rock/Pop Rock)
Hey, did you know hard rock can be fun? Like, really enjoyable and uplifting? Well, this is your proof it can be. Every time I listen to this record, there's a smile on my face. Andrew W.K. is all about partying and this album totally sells it. It's encouraging, fun, and silly, but in all the right ways. A couple of tracks on this thing are kind of long and I do tend to skip them, but even then, they're not terrible and there's only a couple of them. As a whole, this is great! Definitely one of the must fun albums of the year.
8. Mike Shinoda - Post Traumatic (Hip-Hop/Pop/Alternative)
Admittedly, I am a big Linkin Park fan, so when I heard Mike Shinoda was releasing an album which acted as a sort-of diary of his experiences after Chester passed away, I got excited. Simply put, this did not disappoint. Shinoda has never been the best lyricist on the planet, but they work here and you can hear the emotion in his performance, whether he's rapping or singing. I also like the guests here for the most part, especially Chino Moreno from Deftones, who delivers a breathtakingly beautiful chorus on Lift Off. This is one of the strongest works surrounding anything Linkin Park, so I'd say this is absolutely worth checking out. Just keep in mind this is very much inspired by hip-hop, pop, and the like more than rock.
If you thought a band that's been around as long as Judas Priest would just make crappy music, think again. They have legitimately one of the most energized and best metal albums of the entire decade with Firepower. This album is almost an hour long, but it's extremely tight and rarely ever drags. Even this record's weakest tracks are okay and don't take away a whole lot from it as a whole. Rob Halford gives one of the best vocal performances of the year, and the band sounds as good as ever. While this doesn't add a whole lot to their classic sound, the album's so good and entertaining that I don't care. A definite recommend for any metal fan.
6. Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (Post-Rock/Shoegaze/Black Metal)
Wow. What an experience this beast was. This is one of the most uniquely beautiful albums of the year. I don't even know how to describe this record. I guess its post-rock with death metal vocals? I guess that's it. This is definitely an acquired taste and many will hate it, but I thought this was awesome! The build-ups on these tracks are absolutely phenomenal (Especially on Glint, one of the year's best songs) and despite that many of the tracks are over 10 minutes in length, they never feel dragged out, and the talent these guys have is just off the charts. I don't re-visit as often as many of the other albums, because of those long lengths, and I have to be in the right mood for it, but when I am, does this ever deliver. This is not for everyone, but if you're into experimental metal, this is a must listen. Heck, even if you aren't, this is a good jumping off point. Just be prepared for the lengthy run-times.
Here's a controversial one among the Christian community. I stand by my interpretation of the band's on-stage persona as merely a gimmick and a parody, but if you don't want to listen to it, don't. I will because this band's music is top-tier stuff. This record is very influenced by sounds of the 80s, like hair metal and the such, which brings a poppier edge to the tracks that surprisingly works well with their metal sound. Tracks like Rats, Dance Macabre, See the Light, and Life Eternal all have edges of pop in them that don't feel forced and it actually gives them a great melody. This record is absolutely infectious from its opening moments to its closing ones, not wasting a minute of time. Also, the track Miasma has a sax solo in it that's randomly thrown in at the end that's amazing.
4. Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want (Experimental Rock/Noise Rock)
If you want a record that's a challenge to get into, a record that's actually kind of scary, and/or a record that's loud and unique, you might love this. This is my first exposure to the noise rock genre, and I love it. The instrumentation is freaky and legit will scare me if I listen to it in the middle of the night, and the lyricism is somewhat cryptic, but extremely compelling at the same time. It also shows some good variety throughout and it runs at a terrific pace, making every single second worth it. All I can say is listen to the track I'm going to post. If you love that, then I have no doubt you'll adore this record. If you don't, don't bother. You will hate it. This kind of experimental music isn't for everyone, but it is for me.
Okay, these top 3 are what I refer to as the "elite 3" of the year, that meaning these are the only 3 albums released this year that I gave an A+ (My highest grade) to. These may not necessarily be "perfect albums" per se (I don't think any of these are perfect to be honest), but they really grabbed me in some way or another over the other records I heard this year. Now, let's continue to number 3...
3. Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts (Experimental Hip-Hop)
Remember when I was talking about the new Pusha T album in the honorable mentions and I said there was another album similar to it I liked better? Well, this is that record. Kids See Ghosts is a collaboration project between rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi that I only listened to because Anthony Fantano, one of my favorite music reviewers, gave it his first 10/10, a grade he hadn't in three years. What I stumbled across was one of the most unique and experimental albums of the entire year. Every time I listen to this, I'm entranced by the production, the samples, the verses, the hooks, and the chemistry between Kanye and Cudi. They crafted what is my biggest surprise of the year and one of the best albums of the decade. It took a bit for me to get into, but once I was into it, I was hooked and came back for relisten after relisten. Every track is great, like the incredibly fun and prime use of sampling on 4th Dimension and the rock influences on Freeee. However, where this album really shines is in the second half, which can get quite poignant and emotional, like on Reborn and Cudi Montage. If you can't stand rap, this won't change your mind, but for those with a wide appreciation for music, this is a must hear.
2. IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance (Punk/Post-Punk)
Talk about great punk. I mean, wow, holy crap! If it weren't for another certain album that we'll get to, this would be my album of the year. This is one of the best lyrical records I've ever heard. Legit, the lyrics on this album range from hilarious, like on Love Song and Gram Rock, emotional on June, and incredibly political in a good way, on Danny Nedelko and Great. It's perfectly balanced, as all things should be (I apologize for the ham-fisted reference. That was a hard choice the required the strongest wills). The instrumentation here is also great and very loud, especially on the closer Rottweiler and the opener Colossus, even reaching points where it sounds kind of like noise rock. There isn't a lot of variety here, but the songs are distinct enough to stand on their own and the extremely quotable lyrics make me not notice the moments where the instrumentation can get repetitive. The thing that people will probably have trouble with this band is singer Joe Talbot's voice, which is very strong and abrasive. However, if you can get past that, this album rules!
Ok, we have arrived at the number one spot. My favorite album of the entire year. One that could not be topped and left a significant impact on me; One that I knew was special from the very first song on the very first listen. Okay, let's stop with my Obvious stalling. My definite pick for best album of 2018 is...
1. A Perfect Circle - Eat The Elephant (Art Rock)
I remember first hearing this album. It was April 20th of this year, the album's release date, after watching a few reviews for it. Once the opening track (The title track) started to play, I knew this was something special. The piano, the haunting vocals, the drums, everything was so perfect. The album continued to give me perfection throughout its 57 minute run time, which lead me to discover what is now one of my favorite bands of all time and one of my favorites albums of all time. From the hard rock of The Doomed and TalkTalk, the poppier So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish and Delicious, and the gorgeous, slower tracks By And Down The River and Feathers, variety is found throughout the record and it's all extremely well-done. I can say I was addicted to every song on this record at least once. This was my first exposure to this band, and since then, I listened to the rest of their catalog and fell in love, but this record will stand as a special moment, a moment where they did one of the best stylistic shifts of any band this decade. In comparison with their old alternative/hard rock sound, they gave us a melodic, piano-driven sound filled with gorgeous composition that still keeps some of the edge of their older work, but stands on its own as a beautifully made record. Maynard James Keenan's vocals and lyrics is top-tier level stuff, albeit not as aggressive as before, but in a good way. This really gives him a chance to show the range of his melodic singing voice that he only gets to show in his solo output in Puscifer, and his lyrics are diverse and while pretentious to some, they sat extremely well with me. Guitarist Billy Howerdel, who performs most of the instruments here, does a spectacular job balancing out all of them and delivers a wide variety of style and influences, ranging from jazz, hard rock, classical, and pop. All of these deliver some of the best tracks they've done to date, even if they are different. I could ramble on all day about this thing, so give this thing a shot if you're into albums with thought-provoking lyrics, piano-driven music, or good music in general. Just ignore the album cover. I adore this thing, but the album cover's hideous. I mean, look at that thing.
So, we have arrived at the end of the list. This was a big stepping point for me in terms of music this year, definitely my biggest ever. However, every step was worth it. For every mediocre or bad album, there were 2 terrific ones, and these records lead me through some hard times. I encourage you to check out the albums that you think you would like best, since I believe these are all great examples of their respective genres. Anyway, I've got nothing else to say, so enjoy life, I guess. Merry Christmas! Bye.
Alright, I've talked in detail about the music I hated in 2018 in detail, but what about the music I liked? Honestly, this was harder to make. I had originally planned for only 10 songs, but there was so much that I loved that I just had to do 20. There was no other way. That just shows you how much great music came from this year. Well, before we get going, here are a couple rules:
1. Only one song per EP or album. There can be more if there are separate albums, but there's none like that on here.
2. No songs that merely charted the highest in 2018; The songs needs to have been RELEASED IN 2018. No singles released in 2017 for 2018 albums.
3. I will either leave a link to the song right below the title and band or below the paragraph. It depends on whether or not Google will let me post it.
With that said, let's get started with the lead single to an album I'm very much anticipating. They came off of a mediocre 2017 release that's generally considered one of their weakest ever releases. Well, while this single was divisive, I couldn't help but love it.
20. Weezer - Can't Knock the Hustle (Pop Rock/Funk)
Well, here's an unpopular opinion; This song rules. The groove is really funky and fun, and while simple, it works perfectly. Rivers Cuomo sounds great vocally on this track as always, even if his lyrics are a little... off at times. This track is one of the few Weezer tracks to feature swearing and it does come off a little weird, but it doesn't bother me for whatever reason. It comes off rather charming, actually. I don't know if this is sarcastic or being real, but I like it for whatever reason. It's definitely not as "dark" as the upcoming Black Album has been teased to be, and while this can be disappointing, I like this new direction. I was tempted to put the follow-up single, Zombie Bastards, on here instead; However, I found this one to be more creative and thought out, while Zombie Bastards, even though I like it, has a bit of a generic pop feel. I do recommend checking that one out too, however. This is already looking better than 2017's mediocre Pacific Daydream. Here's hoping they stick the landing (Also, the music video with Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy is pretty funny).
This next song is on an album with an interesting concept; It's a metalcore album with each song based on a classic horror movie. It's admittedly a bit cheesy, but that's what makes it so fun.
19. Ice Nine Kills - The Jig Is Up (Metalcore)
Oh, you want heavy homeboy? This is for you. This song and the album as a whole is absolutely terrific. This song is based on Saw, and it delivers on giving that high energy, vicious metal song that it promises. The vocals on this track, both clean and unclean, sound fantastic and add a nice dynamic to the track. The instrumentation is heavy as expected, but it also gives a nice theatrical vibe that fits in extremely well. The lyrics on the album as a whole can be overly cheesy at points, but it works here because it doesn't lean into the cheese quite as much as some of my least favorite cuts on that album. This will be too heavy for some, but it's still well composed and thoroughly engaging throughout.
Well, here's a relatively similar act that just got rather big on the rock scene, due to their cover of Zombie by The Cranberries blowing up and actually reaching the Billboard Hot 100. While I did enjoy their cover quite a bit, it was not the best song off their debut record...
18. Bad Wolves - Officer Down (Groove Metal)
Talk about vicious. While Bad Wolves Disobey was pretty heavy for the most part, the album's closer, Toast to the Ghost, sold me that this band can do amazing things for mainstream metal in the future. However, while that song was my favorite on the record, it was released as the lead single in 2017, so I picked the opener, Officer Down, instead. This song is also vicious and it's a great opener that, just like its closer, proved that this band has maximum potential for greatness. Tommy Vext really shows off his intense screams and his deep, impactful clean vocals and the band gets to show off their skills as well. What really sold me on the song were the surprisingly political lyrics. This talks about cops and their tendency towards gun violence, which doesn't apply to all cops mind you, but it does a great job conveying the message and leaves plenty of room for conversation and research after listening. Thought-provoking music from this genre doesn't come very often, and this was done really well.
Okay, let's take a look at a band that was all over my worst lists this year. I really have a dislike for their newer material, which has had few bright spots. However, that does not stop me from putting a song this good on here.
17. Fall Out Boy - Lake Effect Kid (Pop/Rock)
What, a Fall Out Boy song on the best list? How could this happen? Because this song is awesome, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. While M A N I A was a terrible album, the band released the Lake Effect Kid EP, which wasn't perfect, but it did hold this absolute gem of a track. The guitar work is hard-hitting (For Fall Out Boy, that is), the vocals are great, and the hook is killer. It is standard old-school fare for them, but it was needed after the electropop dumpster fire that was M A N I A, and while they did lean into that on the EP, this song itself was a good return to form that made the EP worthwhile. Also, these guys needed a break from me. 3 entries on 2 worst lists? Yeah, this needed to make it.
Well, time to get heavy again. Yes, another metalcore song. Well, there's a reason this is on the list. While I didn't love the album this was on, this slayed absolutely for different reasons.
16. Architects - Hereafter (Metalcore)
Wow. The more I hear this song, the more I love it. While some may choose Royal Beggars or Death is Not Defeat, this song is the one that completely grabbed me. This track lyrically is about the band's guitarist, Tom Searle, who passed away after a battle with cancer. It's about not being able to escape his essence within you, and it's effective, especially when the chorus hits. The guitars thunder on into one of the best riffs of the year, and the bass and drums carry it very well. While the previously mentioned tracks on this record were great, this is the one that grabbed me the most and had me invested from the first few seconds.
Okay, time for more metalcore! Sorry, it was just a great year for this genre. This is from one of the defining acts of metalcore that may have drifted away from it, but they did give us this incredible continuation of their previous work.
15. Underoath - It Has To Start Somewhere (Hard Rock/Metalcore)
If you want some great, heavy music, this is one of the essential tracks of the year. Just. Wow. This song starts off swinging with some killer drumming on behalf of Aaron Gillespie, who completely showed off his talent behind the kit this year. It continues with the electronic elements subtly put in, as well as the great guitar work. Spencer Chamerlain's vocals are vicious and show a surprising amount of emotion, which really made the track for me.
Okay, time for something not metalcore! This is still within the rock genre, and my bias towards it is probably showing right about now. Anyway, this is a surprisingly emotion-driven cut from a man whose more well known for his encouraging, fun music.
14. Andrew W.K. - Total Freedom (Pop Rock/Hard Rock)
If you want a song that you can feel good while listening to while feeling somewhat emotional, this is the song for you. Here, Andrew W.K reflects on times when you didn't care who had "more or less or was cool or not". His vocals are great here and add a wonderful energy to the track, especially in the chorus. The instrumentation is also great, especially the keyboards and piano, which give it that extra emotional spark. Just a really great power ballad.
Okay, time for something NOT ROCK OR METAL! I first heard of this artist through another song that showed up on the lower half of the Hot 100 this year. While that particular song, you should see me in a crown, was a contender for the list and remains one of my favorite tracks of the year, this one just did even more for me.
13. Billie Eilish - when the party's over (Pop/Alternative Pop)
I can see why Billie Eilish has been getting so much attention over the last year; She's got potential, and this song proves it. Her singing is more subtle than most modern pop singers, and she has a unique presence that reminds me of Lorde (For those who read my Melodrama review, you know that's a good thing). The atmosphere of this song is depression, sadness, and subtle rage, which remain effective and entrancing throughout. The background vocals are really pretty, and the lead vocals are all great at capturing this emotion. The production is very subtle, but very good and surprisingly intricate for such a minimalist song. I look forward her debut album, which should be coming out early next year. She released an EP in 2017 that was good, but this is way above basically anything off of that. Definitely check this out.
Okay, back to metal! This really isn't metalcore, although this band has definitely inspired countless rip-offs and inspired other genuinely good bands. After much anticipation, they dropped the lead single to their new album, and boy, is it a banger!
12. Slipknot - All Out Life (Nu-Metal/Thrash Metal)
The band that scared many a overprotective moms in the 2000s, Slipknot returns with a vicious, heavy, and fun single. Every second of this song is amazing front to back; The guitar riffs, the drums, and Corey Taylor's killer vocals. I love the lyrics where Taylor talks about how he's right about "everything I've said", and his vocals sell it completely. This is a pretty standard Slipknot track, but it's a great one!
This next track is somewhat similar to the Slipknot track; It's a band that's been going at it for a while, and it is a standard track for them, but it's a great one. Here we go:
Talk about proving old people can be awesome! Judas Priest have proven, with this track and specifically the album, that they can still make great, old-school metal. It was a rough contest between this one, Lightning Strike, Never the Heroes, and Sea of Red, but I went with this because I feel like the title track represents the album the best. The speed of this track is infectious, and proves these guys can still play fast and not just do it for fun; It makes for a great song. Rob Halford, 66 at the time of recording, still sounds better than most singers one third of his age. The high notes feel effortless and awesome, for lack of a better word. The guitar solos great, the drum and bass work is good, and it's an all out great track. It doesn't build on their discography too much, but it's still an incredible track.
Yay, we've reached the top 10! My 10 favorite songs of the year! These are the tracks I am absolutely addicted to from the moment they came out, and still am to this day.
To start, we have a band that has been shown to be divisive, especially after their debut album dropped. Some say they copied Led Zeppelin, and while I see their complaints and even agree to an extent, you can't deny this is a great song.
10. Greta Van Fleet - Age of Man (Rock)
I didn't love Greta Van Fleet's new album, but this song had me coming back over and over again. Its long, but never wasted 6 minute runtime had me entranced from the first few seconds with the orchestral composition, and Josh Kiszka's more relaxed vocals. The guitar hits, and it adds to a mystical atmosphere, as do the vocals. Then the chorus hit, and I was completely sold. I feel Greta has yet to hit their full potential, as they remain derivative of classic rock bands, but if they evolve and release music this good, I could see them going places.
Well, here comes an artist that's a bit more depressing. His latest album just missed out on making my Top 10 Albums of the Year list, but this song was so good that it just had to make this one.
9. Father John Misty - God's Favorite Costumer (Singer/Songwriter)
This song is just beautiful. I have a problem with Father John Misty's new album; The instrumentals were overly similar. Here, this is somewhat the case, but the lyrics and the vocals are so passionate and emotional that it makes up for it. He sings about how he's turned to God, who he no longer believes in and now, in his time of depression, turns to Him even without belief. The instrumentation is relatively simple, but it's effective in conveying the song's feel. What really sells me on the song, however, is the chorus. Father Misty sings on it with Weyes Blood, who gives the track a haunting vibe that is absolute perfection.
Time to go to a track that's more of a personal preference. This upcoming track comes from a member of a band I owe a lot to. After their lead singer died, Mike Shinoda moved into something great.
8. Mike Shinoda ft. grandson - Running From My Shadow (Hip-Hop/Alternative)
This song is just fire. Pure. Fire. Plain and simple. Mike Shinoda's flow here is as good as ever and while many find his lyrics corny, I have always liked his lyrical style. The chorus is good, although not as good as the verses or the outro, which is hwere this song packs its punch. The bridge builds with grandson's slowly building vocals, which then explode on the outro. Distorted guitar plays while grandson and Mike Shinoda team up perfectly over it. This may not be the best song of the year, but it's one of my favorites. This is called favorite songs of the year, not the best.
Here comes a band that is controversial to the Christian community; No one can seem to agree if they are satanic or not. However, I have seen this band's gimmick as a parody of satanism, as "nameless ghouls" in the band have admitted to being athiest. With that being said, this song rocks.
7. Ghost - Rats (Pop Rock/Metal)
Say what you want about this band's image; What can't be denied is that this band knows how to craft a banger. The lead single off their latest album Prequelle, Rats was number 1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart for 7 weeks straight, and for good reason. The guitar riff that opens this track is absolutely infectious. The vocals kick in and parallels to the black plague are drawn, which is one of the biggest lyrical themes of the record. The chorus sells the entire song, with Tobias Forge/Cardinal Copia's (The character he plays) pronunciation of "Rats" and the "ohs" in the background give the song a distinct 80s feel, which gives the song charm. Just such a fun track from the first few seconds up until the fantastic closing moments.
Surprise! I actually picked a song that made it number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100! If you know anything about me, you know I think most of the song on there is crap. However, this song had a lot to say and did such a good job.
6. Childish Gambino - This Is America (Hip-Hop)
Donald Glover, who you may know from Community or Solo: A Star Wars Story, has had quite a year. He starred as Lando Calrission, got cast in the Lion King remake as Simba, and released the second best rap song of 2018 (You'll see what number one is). This Is America is basically a commentary of being an oppressed black man in America. While I can't personally relate to this (I'm a very "white" guy), this gets across its point very well. While it is a great song on its own, its music video really makes this song something special. I don't listen to this song on its own because of what the music video does to enhance this song. It's without a doubt the best music video of the year and I believe it will be seen as one of the best of all time once all is said and done.
Well, I've had relatively accessible tracks up unto this point. Now, it's time for something a bit more... Weird...
5. Daughters - Satan in the Wait (Experimental/Noise Rock)
You want something bizarre and scary? Check this out. The new Daughters album is one of the most fascinating and easily the most terrifying record of the year. It was between this and the closer Guest House, but this track left more of an impact on me. Satin in the Wait is not an edgy Christian metalcore track about hiding from Satan; Rather, it is about hatred in the world and how it will lead to "This world... Opening up". It describes several people who are ignorant of their hate and selfishness, which is so effective that it's one of the best lyrical tracks of the year, easy. What makes this even better are the vocals, which are really hard-hitting, and the intense and throttling instrumentation. It gets legit freaky in parts, and it adds to the themes of the world coming to an end. Just a jaw-dropping track that's definitely not for everybody, but for fans of experimental music and noise rock, this will 100% satisfy.
This particular cut was hard to pick. The album this track was on had so many great cuts, but it had to come down to the track that really hooked me on this band.
4. IDLES - Danny Nedelko (Punk)
Look no further, punk lovers; You have one of your songs of the year. This track is not just a great punk track, but a great pro-immigration anthem. The instrumentation is punchy in all the right ways, the vocals take a bit to get used to, but are awesome, and it's extremely quotable, as IDLES in general is. Lines like "He's made of bones... He's made of you, he's made of me, UNITY!" and "My blood brother's Freddie Mercury, a Nigerian mother of three" remain quotable, but also convey the song's message on immigration. You know what? Don't just check this song out; Check out the entire album. It's the best punk album of the decade.
You know what? It's time to unveil the best rap song of the year. What could have ever topped This Is America?
3. Kids See Ghosts - Cudi Montage
Probably one of the most emotional hip-hop tracks I've ever heard. This collaboration between Kanye West and Kid Cudi was an album that I thought would hate, but ended up loving front to back, and the album's closer got me the most. It makes use of a Kurt Cobain sample in his home recording Burn the Rain, with an added subtle beat in the background, which leads to a dark and moody atmosphere as first Cudi and then Kanye rap over. Cudi appears to be talking about more personal struggles, as he does on much of the record, but this is probably the best representation of it on here because of what the sample adds to it. Kanye seems to be talking about violence and how it affects families, a topic done justice. It all culminates in Kanye and Cudi singing separate lines that blend together beautifully. If you love rap, this is a track you just can't miss.
Time for another long, experimental track, like Daughters. However, this perhaps is even more experimental and weird...
Clocking in just shy of 11 minutes, this is by far the longest track on this list. However, every second is rewarding. This one isn't so much about the lyrics, but rather how the composition makes you feel. These musicians are extremely talented at making you feel so much at one time, and this works. Just from ten minutes of composition, I was entranced is feelings of happiness, sadness, and anger, often all at the same time. The screamed vocals found throughout invoke so much with this indescribable band. I'm having a hard time talking about this song and band because they are so different from anything I've heard before. All I can say is check out this track and if you like it, check out the entire Ordinary Corrupt Human Love album. It's well worth your time.
Well, here we are; Number one. Well, let's go through a couple "honorable mentions" first. Check these out as well.
Muse- Thought Contagion (Pop Rock/Electrorock)
Really fun track and one of my favorite singles of the year. I just preferred the songs on this list personally and I didn't care for the album this was on.
Estrons - Lilac (Punk/Pop)
Great punk track with pop influence, and I really liked the album as well. If you're into punk, check this out. Really upset this didn't make the list. Consider this number 21.
Deaf Havana - Sinner (Pop)
I always have a pop jam as one of my favorite songs of the year. This year, this was it. I didn't put it on the list because there were a few other tracks I preferred over it.
Okay, time for number one. This song has never gotten old, despite dozens of listens. Every note, every word, everything is just perfect for my tastes. Here we go... Number one is...
1. A Perfect Circle - So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish (Pop/Rock)
If you've gotten into a conversation about music released this year with me, you know how much I love this song. If you don't, well, I have no problem still talking about it. A Perfect Circle has never done a song like this; An infectious, fun pop/rock song, but here, they did it. Or so it seemed. If you dig deeper and pay attention to the lyrics, They describe us wasting "Every second dime" and they call out celebrities lost over the last couple of years, and how we're losing time. The music helps with this theme by playing towards our unawareness through a melody which seems relatively simple and fun, which is what we all want in the end; A simple life. This is honestly a genius song that I enjoyed for both this deeper meaning and being a great piece of pop/rock, because even without the meaning, it's got a great melody and stellar guitar work from Billy Howerdel. Maynard James Keenan's vocals are not as impressive as some of his other performances even on this album, but they work, because they're not going for overly flashy, but rather for pop, and it works surprisingly well (I bet you wouldn't guess the guy who sang a song called Prison Sex would sing something like this). This song just speaks to me on so many levels; I agree with much of what's being said, and the rhythm keeps it really fun to listen to in a twisted sort of way. It's become one of my all-time favorite songs, not just my favorite song of the year; It's perfect. Just. Perfect.
Okay, that's the list proper wrapped. I hope you enjoyed and I gave you some good song suggestions. Not all of these are for everyone, but for who these are for, some of these are amazing. Anyway, have a Merry Christmas! Bye.
Well, now that the worst songs list is out, let's talk about the worst albums of the year. This was a year where most albums I heard where most were good, if not great. However, there were a select few that I just didn't care for at all. Keep in mind that this is my opinion, and if you do like any of these, that's great! Your opinion is the one that should matter most to you, and stick by it. Don't change or alter it because I disagree. With that said, let's get started.
10. Various Artists - The Black Panther Soundtrack (Hip-Hip)
The film Black Panther was one of the most successful films of the year, both critically and from a box office perspective, so of course a soundtrack with some of the most successful hip-hop and pop artists today like Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd would attract quite a bit of attention. However, this album is just filled with bland, middling hip-hop tracks that just leave your mind once you hear them. While there are highlights like All The Stars with Kendrick Lamar and SZA and Pray For Me with The Weeknd and Kendrick, most of this record is just bland, uninspired material that does not live up to the potential many of these artists can achieve. It honestly reminds me of the film Black Panther, because it's an overrated piece of media that is actually rather bland and uninteresting (Sorry; I think Black Panther is one of Marvel's worst movies). There's really nothing else to say here other than a resounding "meh".
9. Muse - Stimulation Theory (Pop Rock/Electronic)
Okay, now here's an album that's actually interesting to talk about. While the previous entry was bland, this one is overblown and inconsistent. Stimulation Theory starts out well enough with the first three tracks, those being Algorithm, The Dark Side, and Pressure. This is not Muses' best material by any means, but it showed potential for a really interesting album. However, it slowly fades into crap after this, with the boring Propaganda, which has one of the worst openings and refrains to a song I've heard this year, Break It To Me is an embarrassing piece of dubstep-inspired trash that makes me want to die while listening to it, and Something Human is boring, sloppy pop. The rest of the album beyond this point is boring, with the exception of Thoughts Contagion, which is probably the best song on the record. The other songs aren't even worth mentioning because they're so bland. So yeah, it's a very messy album and an inconsistent one at that, but it isn't higher because it at least I feel it's trying, it just falls flat. There are parts of this album I like, such as the previously mentioned good tracks, and Matt Bellamy's vocals are great as always, but it gets too caught into the electronic elements and generic lyric writing.
8. The Smashing Pumpkins - Shiny and Oh, So Bright (Alternative Rock)
Well, here's another boring one. At least with the new Muse album I was engaged in what was going on, even if a lot of it sucked. This album, though... Was just boring. I will admit I have not explored The Smashing Pumpkins discography that much, but this was not a good start. There are a couple highlights, those being Silvery Sometimes and the closer Seek and You Shall Destroy, which are really good and worth checking out. The rest of this album doesn't do anything except have mediocre alternative rock tracks. I already talked about how overblown and confused the opener Knights of Malta is on my worst songs of 2018 list, so I won't say much other than it has way too much going on. The rest of these are just not worth talking about. It's comparable to listening to a void. All I can say is that this album is not the best the year had to offer for 90s rock bands. Bland and uninspired is how I would describe this album.
7. Disturbed - Evolution (Hard Rock)
Okay, I already reviewed this album, but that will not stop me from ranting about it again. This album is Disturbed not trying. Every song feels like it was written with "Would this get radio airplay?" or "Is this like our Sound of Silence cover?" and not with the mindset that they wanted to create inspired music, because most of this is far from inspired; It's trash metal. Not as bad as a band I will talk about later down the list, but it's still a decent example of it. Tracks like Are You Ready, No More, Stronger On Your Own, and The Best Ones Lie feel like they're rehashing old ideas because they want a commercially accessible album and they failed at making the tracks fun and they failed at having some sort of spirit. Also, the acoustic cuts on here are all really bad, especially Hold Onto Memories and A Reason To Fight, which have some of the most generic lyrics and instrumentals I've heard all year. There were plenty of other modern mainstream rock acts that released way better albums than this this year, like Bad Wolves or Underoath. These two albums are ones I highly recommend you check out instead if you want good mainstream rock and/or metal. Disturbed gives nothing to offer this time around, and proves they're not trying anymore.
6. Imagine Dragons - Origins (Pop)
UGH! Why did this have to come out now? Like, the band couldn't take lots of time to improve from Evolve, which was terrible in basically every way? Nope, instead we get an album less than a year-and-a-half after Evolve, and like Evolve, this sucks. It's ever so slightly better, but that's because it doesn't have as many grading songs like its predecessor did, and it focuses on the bland ones, and they're actually sung within Dan Reynolds' limited vocal range for the most part! Still, there are moments where Dan Reynolds sounds his voice is about to explode like on Natural and Machine, and not in a good way; When he sings with that level of grit in his voice, he sounds grading and trying too hard to be "rock n' roll". When he doesn't sing like that, he's indistinct on tracks like Boomerang and West Coast, which are bland and forgettable while and after listening. Bullet In A Gun and Digital are two of the worst songs Imagine Dragons have ever done because of the awful production and writing, Bad Liar had potential but was ruined by the mediocre production, and Zero has an incredibly annoying chorus. Look, if you like this band, good for you, but I don't understand their popularity. They make the most safe, uninspired, and bland music imaginable and they don't "imagine dragons", they imagine paychecks.
Five Finger Death Punch - And Justice for None (Groove Metal)
...And the kings of trash metal have returned. Wow. What a disgusting listen. This is a prime example of trashy, lazy radio metal that adds nothing to the genre. What's frustrating about it is that this is a very talented band. No joke, if they put a decent amount of time into a record, it could turn out pretty good. Their guitarists are good, their drummer is good, and Ivan Moody, for all the crap he gets, is a great singer when he tries, unlike here. The band sounds like they wanted a paycheck, and that's it; They didn't want to put an ounce of creativity or fun into this entire record and instead opted for the cringy, poorly made, and frankly boring groove metal they've been putting out for years. They're on autopilot, and they bring nothing to the songs on this record. The opener Fake is one of the best so bad it's good songs of the entire year, as is Rock Bottom, because of their try-hard nature. Sham Pain was placed second on my worst songs of the year list, so that should say enough. The Blue On Black cover is basically Five Finger Death Punch doing a karaoke version of the original, and the Gone Away cover is incredibly boring and rips the energy right out of the original song, and those are really the only songs worth bringing up. The rest makes you feel like trash after listening, and that's all I can say about it, except for that the album cover sucks. It legitimately makes me wanna puke. If you want something like this that's actually good, check out Disobey by Bad Wolves, which is a great groove metal album and, while not perfect, it is a great example of this genre done right. This is groove metal done horribly wrong.
4. Machine Gun Kelly - Binge (Trap/Mumble Rap)
Ohhh boy. Here we go. This is technically only an EP, but that does not excuse it from this list. Pusha T's DAYTONA is another rap album considered a full length album and its shorter than this, and that album is also WAY better. This is similar to the Five Finger Death Punch album, that being I feel dirty after listening to it. It sounds disgusting and it makes me want to take a shower after listening. The much discussed Rap Devil, an Eminem diss track, makes a couple of decent points, but it ends up as pathetic and Eminem's diss track topped it in every way. There's nothing else to talk about. The beats are disgusting, the verses are generic, and the production sucks on every level. This is trap and mumble rap at its absolute worst. There are much better rap album this year, as the previously mentioned DAYTONA or the Kanye West and Kid Cudi project Kids See Ghosts. Please, seek those albums out instead. This is just a failed attempt from Machine Gun Kelly to remain relevant. Just pathetic in every sense of the word.
3. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (Art Pop)
I know I'm in the minority for this one, but this album is terrible. While it's technically not as bad as the last two albums on the list, this one frustrates me more. At least with the previously mentioned albums they're just bad. This is trying so hard to be good, but it messes up in execution. From the first couple tracks, you know you're in for a ride of the worst kind. Give Yourself A Try has the most annoying guitar part of the year, and TooTimeTooTimeTooTime is annoying pop at its worst. The lyrics on this record are either pretentious or confused, I don't know which, but either way, I can't tell what they're trying to convey most of the time. The autotune is also a serious issue, especially in the album's first ten tracks, where almost every song as an excessive use of autotune. I understand that it can be a good tool to clean up a vocal performance, but it's overblown here. Honestly, I can see why when I listen to Love It If We Made It, which features vocalist Matt Healy struggling to sing competently and it comes off as annoying rather than actually decent. The Man Who Married A Robot/Love Theme ended up as my least favorite song of the year because of its in-your-face lyrics and annoying factor, Inside Your Mind comes off as creepy and boring, and the whole album comes off as boring and pretentious. I don't know how most of these lyrics connect in any sort of way, and the music is going for the atmospheric feel, but it ends up putting me to sleep rather than engaging me. What really ticks me off about this record is that it could've been great if done right. No, seriously, there is legit potential here. It's Not Living (If It's Not With You) and I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes) are okay moments that show this band can do good music, and apparently the critics think so, since they've treated this like it's the Second Coming of Christ. I just don't get it, though; The pretentious lyrics, bad vocal performances, boring instrumentals, and the overbloated nature of the record make me want to listen to Disillusioned by A Perfect Circle, which has many of the same themes and a somewhat similar atmosphere to many of these songs, but it's actually well-executed and gorgeous. Heck, go listen to the entire Eat The Elephant record instead of this, it's awesome. The same can't be said for this record, however.
2. Fall Out Boy - M A N I A (Pop/Dubstep)
Okay, time to rip on Fall Out Boy once again. This record is just trash from start to finish with not a single good song on it. When I heard this record, I knew this wasn't just a bad album; This transcended the now meaningless term bad. You know what you're getting into immediately with Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea with its dubstep-like production and nonsensical lyrics. While this is my least favorite cut on the record, it does have cuts that rival it. Hold Me Tight or Don't has this weird Caribbean beach vibe that comes off as a bizarre choice that just doesn't work, and it doesn't help that it it contains the line, "I want to sleep on every piece of fuzz and stuffing that comes out of you", which might be the worst line I've heard in a song this year. Church is one of the most overblown and terrible songs of the entire year, Young and Menace doesn't even deserved to be discussed, and Sunshine Riptide featuring Burna Boy is the closest you'll ever get to a Fall Out Boy trap song, which says enough. There are a few shining moments of potential, like The Last of the Real Ones, Wilson, and Bishops Knife Trick, but they're ruined by first draft songwriting and the crappy dubstep inspired production. This Fall Out Boy reunion has been terrible ever since Save Rock And Roll and it needs to end. I don't care if Lake Effect Kid was a great song; One great song does not mean a reunion with three mediocre to bad albums was worth it. Fall Out Boy either needs to get their act together and write good songs or break up. That's how I see it at this point. This reunion has officially gone too far.
Well, here we are the worst album of the year. Before we get to this pick, I will say that I love this artist very much. However, this album was an absolute disaster that somehow is worse than a modern Fall Out Boy album. Oh boy, here we go, number one is...
1. Tom Morello - The Atlas Underground (Dubstep/Electronic/Rock)
Holy. Crap. WHAT IS THIS THING? No joke, this may be the worst album I've heard not just this year, BUT EVER HEARD. It's that bad. At least with Fall Out Boy's latest there were songs that had potential, while this is just front-to-back garbage. Tom Morello decided to try and fuse dubstep and a bunch of random artists together to create a pathetic attempt at trying to be relevant, but he ended up being dated I don't even know where it begin with this thing.
Let's take it from track 1 I guess, which is a boring and repetitive instrumental featuring of electronic duo Knife Party with Tom Morello's guitar playing. It feels completed, but it's bland, but it shows that this could be done well. Let's see what comes next, which is AWFUL. Rabbit's Revenge has a really bad repetitive instrumental and two lame, overblown rap verses about gun violence, an important topic, but not done well here. Every Step That I Take is generic radio pop crap, We Don't Need You is so bad it's hilarious, Find Another Way mixes together way too many elements, making the track disjointed; How Long had some potential, but falls short of it due to the crappy mix and production, Lucky One is boring, One Nation and Vigilante Nocturno are both filler instrumentals that are annoying more than anything, Where It's At Ain't What It Is literally only has two or three lines repeated throughout and it becomes irritating quick, Roadrunner is just as, if not more annoying, than the track before it, and Lead Poisoning features more crappy political rapping. Wow. Not a moment of good will. What's worse is that these songs are 100% incomplete. These sound like demos, and for the most part, they're not even good demos; These are the kind of demos that an artist throws away immediately in order to save their career, not resurrect it. They're forced, the production is crap, the song writing is crap, the guests don't fit with Tom Morello's guitar playing, and it's way too long. The only shining moments are the ones where the album is so bad it's hilarious, but those moments rarely ever come. Tom Morello has shown through his other projects like Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave that he can do way better than this. He is one of the greatest guitarists working right now, and I hate to see him create something this desperate. Maybe he'll learn from this mistake and make another record by himself or with another band that's well-done and actually politically powerful. Oh well, I guess. Oh well.
That raps up the Worst Albums of 2018 list. I hope you enjoyed reading. I will be doing a list of best songs and albums of the year very soon, lists of 20 and 10, respectively. I will share more positive thoughts there and hopefully will come off more likable. Anyways, Merry Christmas! Bye.
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