Ramblin'

Monthly Album Recap - May 2026

May was a busy month with catching up on a backlog of albums. There was some good stuff, wildly middling work, and some true stinkers.

Header - New Spins

New Albums

Spencer Cullum - Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection Vol. 3 // Folk

This is good dinner party and camping music. nothing offensive, but nothing that sticks out. overall a good hang.

Hooky - WORLD MUSIC // EDM Rock

This is Avalanches-core and a B version at best.

HOUSE OF ALL - Inklings // Talky Rock

This is for people who think Parquet Courts are too melodic

Boards of Canada - Inferno // IDM

The soundtrack to the world taking a worse turn

feeble little horse - bitknot // garage pop

vocals sound lazy, production is fuzzed out, and everyone is having a good time!

Kim Petras - Detour // Poppy Pop

Just felt like uninspiring pop music. Single go hard, not an album artist for me.

Kurt Vile - Philadelphia's been good to me // Stoner Rock

Should only be enjoyed outside while you're doing other things.

Iceage - For Love of Grace & the Hereafter // Post Punk

They continue to not miss and hit the moodiness points I come to expect from them. I love his drawl and the production of all their work.

ear - Rumspringa // bedroom slacker rock

this was boring. I had to strain to pay attention to bits and pieces.

Lowerton - Ugly Duckling Union // (f)Artsy Rock

I think having kids made me less tolerable to this artful moaning rock. And I think that's a good thing.

Seaheaven - Seaheaven // Alt Rock

I thought this music died in 2012 with the obvious culmination of Imagine Dragons.

JPEGMAFIA - EXPERIMENTAL RAP // Uhh, Experimental Rap

This album is Walmart Death Grips

Turnover - Down on Earth // Indie Gaze

Wildly fine and forgettable. Tried listening twice, zoned out both times.

Sadness - spring 2025 // melodic screams

Abuses my rule about no songs over 4-minutes, but it feels like a complete listen each time and keeps bringing me back for more

Bad Neighbour - Burns from the X-Rays // 2003 Pop Punk

Some great grooves and good hooks. Varied enough while still emulating the sound that I cannot escape.

The Beautiful States - Alpine Park // nth wave emo

Grimier feeling pop punk and it made a nice one-two punch with Bad Neighbour.

Death Cab for Cutie - I Built You A Tower // Wistful Millennial

Sorry, The National already have "Sad Dad" cornered as a market.

Flowers for Emily - Elijay // Post-Hardcore

For the love of god, turn up the vocals a little bit. Or play better backing.

Halycon Days - NOTHING TO NO ONE // SOMETHING TO SOMEONE // Screamo

This sounds like modern Atreyu without a song that sticks out like Deanne the Arsonist.

Hammok - When Does This Place Become Our Scene // Post Punk

Rather dry album that teeters on interest but just filters to background vibes

Live Longer Burn Everything - Something You Weren't Meant to See // Post Hardcore

2006 is really making a comeback, huh? Well, do better.

Midrift - Silhouette // Indie Rock

There's something about this that almost sticks. This has a lot of potential with some really good riffs and flow of the album.

Together to the Stars - Iridescence // Metal

This is a B+ Deafheaven.

Vince Staples - Cry Baby // Rap

All Vince Staples albums are good/enjoyable. Most don't have lasting power though.

Converge - Hum of Hurt // Metal

Yeah, this is a Converge album.

Modest Mouse - An Eraser And A Maze // Indie Rock

This is like Vince Staples but I enjoy it more. Am I washed Dad? Yes.

B0YG1RL - Exit 2B // Hyperpop

Lots of noises explored and while it had bright moments it felt unfinished the whole time.

fawn practice - ghost season // bedroom pop

What if Postal Service came off as more whiny?

The Haunted Youth - Boys Cry Too // shoegaze

This was an enjoyable listen that seemed to trail off the longer it ran.

The All-American Rejects - Sandbox // Pop Punk

The more these bands come back and put out bangers, the more I can use the "it's not a phase" jokes.

Heavy Metal Chess Club - I Think It'll Haunt Me Forever // DIY Emo

I don't know what wave of emo this is, but it's definitely trying.

Olivia Rodrigo - you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love // Pop

Glad to see the through-line of Hayley Williams to the next generation.

HummusVacuum - The Art Of A Fake Laugh // Pop Punk

Self-aware pop punk isnt it.

Freshman Biology - Tanglewired // Instrumental

This sounds like a Rayman game.

Slippers - Slippers 08 // Indie Pop

This album would have killed in '08.

Hazel City - goblynmarkytt // folk

Languid.

Spoils - Mile Wide Inch Deep // Fuzz Rock

Wouldnt hate if this ended up on a playlist. Will forget about this in two hours.

Star Moles - Highway to Hell // Singer Songwriter

Stripped down production with some warbles. Does a pretty good Laura Marling impersonation.

Sunday Mourners - A-Rhythm Absolute // Post Punk

Like if Parquet Courts got too bored to build out the rest of the band.

Ulrika Spacek - Expo // Indie Rock

Dreamy indie rock album that just sucks you in throughout. Glad I came back to this.

YHWH Nailgun - Magazine // Noise Art Rock

This jammed so much into 10-minutes it made me want to continue to listen to it. Great sounds, great production. Exciting band.

dak duBois - trois // Funk Rock

Milwaukee puts out good music. This is a great summer album

Kelsey Lu - So Help Me God // Pop

Had some good moments, but seems to get lost in trying to be ART and not FUN.

Wiki - Ancient History // NYU Hip Hop

Enjoyable album, but I think I am washed out of new rap music.

Warning - Rituals of Shame // Metal

Some guy who loves the soundtrack for Stranger Things will tell you this is good. Don't fall for it.

matt proxy - trojan horse // internet rap

holy hell. this was awful cosplay of an Odd Future mixtape.

Pond - Terrestrials // Rock

Boring.

Styrofoam Winos - Any River // Indie Rock

Perfectly adequate album that everyone will forget exists in 2-weeks.

Swim Deep - Hum // Folk Rock

See Seaheaven.

Tasha - You Are Spring! // Neo Soul

This is almost as good as a Jamila Woods album.

Chanel Beads - Your Day Will Come // Art Pop

So this is what happens when you remove the production and strip down the singing of Beach House

Beth Orton - The Ground Above // Art Folk

Everything sounds so strained.

yulia - Kindness, she's so Jealous // Red40 Pop

This is 100 Gecs-lite. Just listen to the real thing.

Muse - The Wow! Signal // Anthemic Rock

The most exciting thing was typing that exclamation mark.

Madeon - Victory // Euro Dance

This feels like a DJ AM mix from the mid-2000s.

Harmony Tivid - Lifetime // Indie Pop

Wildly fine.

Ibeyi - Offerings // Indie Rock

They will forever be chasing that River song.

Bike Routes - Prairie // Emo Rock

Sounds like emo that was raised on Bruce Springsteen.

Sincere Engineer - Probable Claws // Pop Punk

Aggressive, but underwhelming, Sweet Pill

Header - Re-Spins

Re-Spins

Truth Club - Running From the Chase // Emo Pop

This one initially took a bit to click, but I find myself defaulting to this album during the day. Don't know if it's great, but it's wildly enjoyable.

Thanks! I Hate It - Scatterbrain // Pop Punk

The next generation is going to be all good.

Geese - Getting Killed // Psyop

Even if their marketing was on point, they still put together good music. Just no more solo projects.

Arm's Length - Never Before Seen, Never Again // Emo Pop

This is my sweet spot. This album is one of my favorites over the last few years and almost approaching Spanish Love Songs with how it opens.

Cat Power - Sun // Indie Pop

Yeah, this still holds up. Such a fun record.

Jeff Rosenstock - POST- // Punk

Dude can put together riffs while sending a message. Punk might not be dead. (I have no idea, I don't really listen to punk)

Jamila Woods - LEGACY! LEGACY! // Neo Soul

One of the grooviest albums.

Header - Cassette Plays

Cassette Plays

Dipped back into my physical media library this month and revisited these gems

Father John Misty - Fear Fun

He is the only priest/pastor/father I recovnize

Pool Kids - Pool Kids

Saw them live and their music vibe is immaculate.

Sweet Pill - Where the Heart Is

Another pop punk album that hit the Tigers Jaw bit I wanted

avec plaisir - active listening

Surprise album from last year that gets better with each listen.

June Favorite Listens