I started writing this post to get some of the news albums I have been listening to lately off of my regular playlist of new music, and to get some of the thoughts I had about them out of my head. None of the thoughts below are in a particular order because there were so many that has stacked up and where I think some deserve more than a quick blurb with some praise, that is the best they will get at this point.

This has been split up into two pieces, to continue to the second part: click here

The Damnwells – Self Titled

I’ve been listening to this album since it came out and I’ve still yet to be tired of it. The band is one of my High School favorites and I was finally able to see them earlier this year. Listen to this album, it’s beautiful!

Best tracks: “Kentexas”, “She Goes Down”, and “Kill Me”

Mackintosh Braun – Arcadia

This band I learned about in College with their album Where We Are and when I learned they had a new album coming out, I had to take a listen. Arcadia was a great album for the Summer and will probably continue to be listened to through the Fall.

Best tracks: “Never Give In”, “We Ran Faster Then”, “In Reverse”

Imagine Dragons – Smoke and Mirrors

I’m pretty disappointed that I missed their most recent Seattle show (with Metric and Halsey) and I was even disappointed the first time I heard the album. After a couple listens, it grew on me and I’m pretty happy about that. Some bands really struggle with Sophomore albums and ID went a slightly different direction with their new album, a more experimental approach and that paid off for them in the long run.

Best tracks: “I’m So Sorry”, “Friction”, “Shots”

Death Cab For Cutie – Kintsugi

I listened to this album quite a bit while I was traveling abroad in Japan. It just so happened that one of the songs “Little Wanderer” talks about being in Japan. Death Cab For Cutie has never been a band that releases an album that I fall in love with, usually only a couple select songs, but this one hooked me from the start.

Best tracks: “Little Wanderer”, “The Ghosts of Beverly Drive”, and “Good Help (Is So Hard To Find)”

Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways

I know this album has been out for quite a bit longer than some of the others on this list but they are coming to The Gorge on Sept 12 and I wanted a refresher.

Best tracks: “In The Clear”, “Feast and The Famine”, “Subterranean”

Matt Pond PA – The State of Gold

Also another album I listened to quite extensively in Japan. I’ve been a big fan of Matt Pond PA for years and his newest album is fantastic.

Best tracks: “More No More”, “Take Me With You”, and “The State of Gold Pt 1 & 2”

Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind

Meh. I like some of the tracks on this album but the others don’t resonate with what I was hoping for. I expected something like this from their sophomore album but I guess it was going to happen eventually. Their sound is evolving and they are trying out more Rock-based melodies, which work for some of the tracks, but meh.

Best tracks: “Wilder Mind”, “Believe”, “Hot Gates”

Halsey – BADLANDS

Halsey hooked me in with “Ghost” a couple months before her album dropped and once it came out, I found tracks that I enjoyed but the single is probably the best track on the album, where that isn’t always a bad thing, it just makes the rest of the album feel lackluster comparatively. Worth a listen, I guess.

Best tacks: “Ghost”, “Colors”, “Young God”

The Fratellis – Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied

Prior to this album releasing, I got back into The Fratellis and their album previous to this one was a solid collection of tracks and with their newest release, I can say the same.

Best tracks: “Theif”, “Imposters (Little by Little)”, “Rosanna”

IAMDYNAMITE – Wasa Tusa

I saw IAMDYNAMITE open for SUM 41 a couple years ago and for a duo, they have a huge sound. Very much like the Black Keys in their style but they are a bit more rock-centric. They continue to make great tracks and this album is a big accomplishment for them.

Best tracks: “In the Summer”, “Feel Real”, “Keep It Simple”

Muse – Drones

Muse has made some great music over the years, their last album, The 2nd Law, is an exception to me and so going into this album I was a bit cautious. Prior to the album release, I saw the music video for “Psycho” and was excited for what was to come, still cautious though. Once the album released, I listened to it three or four times start-to-finish and was happy with it. At least, more than I was with The 2nd Law.

Best tracks: “Psycho”, “Reapers”, “Defector”

Atlas Genius – Inanimate Objects

With their first album, When It Was Now, Atlas Genius blew me away. Great sound, catchy riffs, and unique vocals. They set the bar high and going into a sophomore album, I didn’t expect Inanimate Objects to come close to their initial release. “Stockholm” and “Molecules” are great singles but I ruined them by listening to them too much before the album released. Despite that, they aren’t the best tracks on the album unlike many of the other albums in this post. Atlas Genius continues to produce fantastic music and this is one of the best sophomore releases of the year.

Best tracks: “Molecules”, “A Perfect End”, “Levitate”