78. Vultures 2 by Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign - 6

-Tough one to grade. The first few tracks are really solid and I was pretty hyped to believe that Ye had gifted us not one, but two comeback albums in the same year. The back half of the album is rough though. Like I could turn it off after song 7 (of 16) and be totally fine with it. I don't ever want to hear his daughter rap again.

79. Written On Wides Corner by Sule and Black Soprano Family* - 7.5

-I think this was pretty good, but I was partially distracted by getting really really mad about the final boss of the Elden Ring dlc.

80. This Is How Tomorrow Moves by Beabadobee - 6.5

-This chick is pretty consistent with her chill alt-pop songs. As always, it starts with a few decent songs that might make the F50, but by the end I was more than ready to be done with it.

81. Persona by Gel - 8

-Can only give so high a grade for such a short hardcore album, but Gel are badass.

82. Who Are You When No One Is Watching by Graphic Nature* - 7.9

-I believe the kids would call this one - numetalcore. Infinite amount of subgenres aside, there are so many good metal bands around right now that is becoming increasingly harder to stand out. So good on Graphic Nature for being to do that! See you in the pit! Well, I would have a few years ago, now I'll just be on the outside waching cause I'm old.

83. Another Day by Fucked Up - 8.5

-Fucked Up launched a new era of their careers last year with One Day, using the South Park method of writing and recording the entire record in a single day. And while there was lots to like on there, it did kinda sound like an album that was written and recorded in one day. Another Day however ... well I'm not one to called Fucked Up liars, but these songs do sound way too good to be written in a single day. I guess there is more than meets the ear with these folk if such a thing was possible. Now I wanna hear the third part in the trilogy to know if they can improve even further!

84. Summertime Butch by Benny The Butcher and Black Soprano Family - 5.5

-This one kinda confuses me. Benny is in the Black Soprano Family group, yet on Apple it gives both of them credit for the album. Reminds me of when people didn't know how to refer to Hey Ya since it was both Outkast and not Outkast, so stupid ass Damian on TRL would say "Hey Ya by Outkast ft. Andre 3000." Never made any sense. What a dork. Bring back Carson. This album really isn't worth all this speculation on its credits since it was pretty mid, but I'd still like to solve this mystery!



There's a recently released pop-band album that is wonderful. I wanna give it at least one more listen before rewarding a super high grade though. Maybe two. Or nine.

85. Forever by Charly Bliss - 10

-Fuck it, lets go with a full 10. I'm on my ninth listen in four days - obsessed. This one came out of nowhere too. I had to go back and listen to their old albums to confirm that they weren't all that. This one though? Forever is indeed all that. Totally changed their sound from a 90s poprock (Weezerish) to an 80s powerpop and it made all the difference. Eva Hendrick's vocals sound so good on these songs its become a mystery as to why they didn't go this direction from the start. Reminds me of CRJ in the Kiss-era, but with Taylor quality lyrics. Perhaps it was the new producer (guy from Hippo Campus), perhaps it was swirtching labels, perhaps it was something I haven't even thought about. You just don't see these kind of jumps in quality very often, if ever.

Two best songs - "Calling You Out" and "Back There Now" . I could also see "Last First Kiss" being used in romcoms for ages to come.

Up to like 20 listens on the Charly Bliss album ... I might need to go to rehab to stop listening to it 3 times a day lol.

Did find time for another great album though! August always has so many bangers.

86. Death is Little More by Boundaries* - 8.8

-Yes, this is more screaming metalcore, but god damn do you hear those riffs? So badass. This is right there with Knocked Loose and Alpha Wolf as the best metal album of year.

87. Excessive Guilt by Thrown - 9

-Hell yeah. This Swedish metalcorers (even more core than usual) were one of my most anticipated left on the schedule and they delivered the goods. 11 songs, 21 minutes, 100% awesome.


August is always a good month but this one really overdelivered with Charly Bliss, Jack White, Gel, Fucked Up and now Thrown. Boundaries came out earlier in the year, but I'll count it towards my August anyway lol. Does it top the April with Vamp and Taylor? Thats still hard to say. August still has more to offer too since I've fallen behind on new releases again due to playing these four so much.

88. Short n Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter - 5.5

-Meh.. but in this case Meh actually exceeds expectations, which were that I would turn this off after a song or two. Still don't really get why she has become an A-lister, Carly could do all of these songs way better, but I suppose there are plenty of people who could have done it worse.

Doesn't help that it came out a week after one of the best pop albums ever.

89. Between Inverted Worlds by Trench* - 6

-More metalcore, though this one didn't hit quite as well as soom of the other recent ones. Only 23 minutes which was nice, and all the songs were fine, but I doubt I'll listen to it again.

90. Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay* - 8.7

-Another winner out of August. While the singers asmr-style vocals keep this from being truly magnificent, the musical beats are so damn hot. Feels like house music being made by a full band. Reminds me of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, but also feels wholely original.

91. Romance by Fontaines DC - 3.8

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92. Ten Days by Fred Again - 7.7

-Don't listen to much electronic music anymore, but I have been kinda enjoying this new ultra-chill before-bed style of it. Must not be alone in that since Fred Again rose all the way up to be a Bonnaroo headliner this year. Its very soothing, and listening to it now makes me wanna just lie back down and relax until I can't anymore. Unfortunately, work is still there, but Fred tried his best to make me forget.

93. The Light Age by Many Eyes - 6

-Eh, its fine I guess. I was never a huge Every Time I Die fan so this project wasn't the biggest deal for me like it has been for others (metal subs have not been kind to it.) However, I can say for sure that this band and Better Lovers (other members of etid) are worse off seperately, and anyone who was watching early AEW knows that the Butcher and the Blade aren't exactly the world's greatest tag team. So its about damn time for ETID to get back together. Shield style.

Back to new music after a splendid weekend at riotfest!

94. 143 by Katy Perry - 3.6

-Katy heard Charli XCX for the first time and was like "I can do that!" Turns out ... she could not lol. Though, even though this is a pathetically low score, its still not as bad as peple are acting. Its more sad than bad if anything. Desperate is never a good look on a woman.

95. Smitten by Pale Waves - 5

-Not sure why, but this band's sound/lyrics seem to get less complex and mature as they age. I really felt Heather's melancholy on those first few records and now she just kinda sounds like any ole alt-pop girl. I'm not mad, just disappointed.

96. Flood by Hippo Campus - 7.8

-I'm always rooting for bands with great names so its nice to hear Hippo Campus starting to live up to that promise. Its 90s rock revival mixed modern alternative, think Glass Animals but even more mellow. Easy listen.

97. People Watching by 156/Silence* - 8.8

-Another badass metalcore album to throw in for the year 2024. And while normies might hear every song the same, core vets can note and appreciate the variety in the album.

98. Feeling Not Found by Origami Angel - 8.8

-Gami gang is back! These New Jersey powerpop-punkers popped up on my radar last year (thanks to Riotfest of course), but even though I gave their 2023 album a decent score, they didn't place any songs on the Flava'd Fifty which had to be considered a disappointment. FNF (not the Glorilla version) will not have that issue. Its just a question of whether it will be "Dirty Mirror Selfie" or "Where Blue Light Blooms" or the title track.

99. Moon Magic by Coldplay - 2.5

-This is the "how do you do, fellow kids" 30 Rock meme in the form of an album. And after I gave them the #2 spot on my 2002 FF? The boys let me down.

100. Lights, Camera, Revolution by Suicideboys - 5.5

-SB are pretty good for white rappers, but its also kinda just all bass on this album. Whats the point of having lyrical depth if no one can hear what you're saying?

New releases are pretty light for a few weeks then we get a late ocobter/november burst with Japandroids, Halsey and Linkin Park!!

101. Bleeding Star by Kingdom of Giants - 8.2

-More heavy music and more proof that heavy music is by far the most consistently good here in the early/mid 2020s.

102. Inhale / Exhale by Rufus Du Soul - 8.1

-Did not expect eletronic music to re-enter my world in such a big way this year. Rufus are definitely leading the charge here. Their music is so damn relaxing. Its perfect for chilling and playing video games or just mellowing out before going to sleep. Lately was my favorite song but there are winners up and down the album.

103. Childish by Lane 8 - 8

-The 3rd and final of my new fav electro discoveries this year (along with Rufus and Fred, Justice are a long time fan) is more of a traditional style with little to no vocals on every track instead of having a dedicated vocalist or a bunch of guests. It put me to sleep twice yesterday, which for most artists would be a bad thing, but for Chilltronica music it is the best possible compliment.

On a great streak! Hopefully the return of Japandroids keeps it going on Friday!