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 first part: click here

Civil Twilight – Story of an Immigrant

This is the third studio record from Civil Twilight and maybe I need more time with it but it still feels lacking compared to their self-titled album. They have some fantastic tracks on the album but none of them seem to resonate with me like their first album.

Best tracks: “Story of an Immigrant”, “When When”, “All My Clothes”

AWOLNATION – Run

After seeing AWOLNATION live about a year ago, they garnered a new respect, like most artists that I see live, so I got into their music more. With the release of their new album, I was stoked about their single “Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)” and some of the other tracks but I can pass on the rest of it.

Best tracks: “Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)”, “Woman Woman”, “Like People, Like Plastic”

Disturbed – Immortalized

Disturbed has always been one of those bands that I either need to be working out or pissed off to enjoy. Their newest album has a couple of mellow sections but they still have the important parts: growling vocals, heavy guitar, and raw anger.

Best tracks: “Immortalized”, “The Vengeful One”, “Never Wrong”

The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness

Much like Halsey, The Weeknd’s single “Can’t Feel My Face” is a very catchy song but the rest of the album isn’t what I was expecting, but I wasn’t familiar with TW prior to this album, knew the name and a track or two but not much more.

Best tracks: “Can’t Feel My Face”, “Often”, “In The Night”

Of Monsters and Men – Beneath The Skin

Like many of the bands on this list, Of Monsters and Men is one that I listen to occasionally and throw some tracks on playlists here and there but that is the furthest we go. I like what I hear but I don’t seek out their music.

Best tracks: “Human”, Empire”, “I of the Storm”

X Ambassadors – VHS

I like X Ambassadors and I like VHS, but I don’t think I can listen to it anymore. After the third or fourth time through I started getting tired of it. Nothing about it is particularly bad, but it just doesn’t stick like their previous album did.

Best tracks: “Jungle”, “Renegades”, “Naked”

New Politics – Vikings

I occasionally listen to New Politics and what I’ve heard I’ve liked. Their new album rides the line between good and entirely forgettable. NP has a good control of their Punk influences and there are great examples on the album and then there are other tracks that make me wonder what they are doing.

Best Tracks: “West End Kids”, “Everywhere I Go (Kings and Queens)”, and “Pretend We’re In A Movie”

Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface

Imagine two awkward teens walk into Hot Topic, pick out a whole bunch of silly outfits, and then go home to play instruments while changing into those outfits every other song… Silly, right? It actually happens on stage though. Their music has great introspection and catchy beats, but live their show clashes with their message.

Best tracks: “Stressed Out”, “Fairly Local”, “The Judge”