It's been a minute since I dropped an #AlbumGems post, but if you're a fan of the 60s/70s sound, but wish someone was making disco-soaked EDM music with modern recording techniques, you'll enjoy "Volcano" by the band Jungle. All of their albums are fun and worth checking out, but this one really hits just right.

Taster tracks (and videos! their videos are all single-take dance routines which rule): "Dominoes, Pretty Little Thing, Candle Flame, Good At Breaking Hearts"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZqMYcgR8tg

Since my auto-deletion was configured, I lost all my #AlbumGems posts (oops) so I'll add more back here and keep them.

"Harmony of Difference" by Kamasi Washington is a lovely EP, though it's essentially a suite of the same melody interwoven beautifully across the album. It all comes to a head with "Truth," a breathtaking track that glues everything together in a beautiful and inspiring piece. Highly recommended if you're looking for some modern jazz to get into. KW is an absolute giant 🎷 🥰

A throwback to one of the many amazing Devin Townsend incarnations, this time as Devin Townsend Band, we have "Accelerated Evolution" for today's #AlbumGems

I am a massive DT fan, from Strapping Young Lad until present. It's impossible to write enough about his songwriting, tone, humor and breadth as a musician. He has one of the most impressive vocal ranges, you feel the screams in your soul kind of shit. This is early in his "solo" career but this record holds a special place in my heart 1/x

I miss #albumgems so I’m here’s my latest addiction

Ants Corrupt Elephant by the Chinese Post Punk band Backspace, published by independent label Maybe Mars

While I don’t understand the lyrics as they’re in Chinese, I feel the emotions behind each track. And it genuinely made me remember that I missed guitars so much.
An anecdote: I showed this to a colleague and he asked if I smoked the laganja, the Green puff. So I guess that’s as good as a rec for any weed puffers in here as you can get

Listening to the new Kara Jackson album Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love? And it is beautiful and lush and her voice is incredible. #AlbumGems

I'm feeling everything a bit too much today, which means it's time for some progressive/technical heavy tunes. Today's #AlbumGems comes from progressive technical metal band The Contortionist. Their album "Language" is a fairly approachable album in this genre, as they expertly balance their songwriting. Not too heavy, not too light, not too prog, just balanced. If you wanted to dip your toes into some technical bands with growl/scream vocals but also cottony/melodic sung passages, check this!

I haven't done an #AlbumGems in a while, so I think it's time.
Today's is "Wildlife" (2011) by La Dispute. The instrumentation, harmonies and melodies, and gradual growth in "hardness" across the album has always enamoured me; and the topics - specifically surrounding living in the rust belt - really hit home. It's the perfect mix of post-hardcore and prog rock.

And it's amazing that they recorded the whole album from the passenger side at a drive thru 😯

#AlbumGems The Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle

Just... Just fucking listen to it, it's genius.

Sunday #vinyl time. This record is very recent and I posted an #AlbumGems about it. Very highly recommended if you’re into prog, stoner, doom styles of music. Go give “Innate Passage” by Elder a listen and support these folks on Bandcamp or their site if you like what you hear 💚

I’m still so in love with this record, it came out at the end of 2022 and stole my number one slot for album of the year. 🥰

Today's #AlbumGems is from psychedelic rockers Spiral Drive. Their album "Visions In Bloom" is a perfectly accessible psych record for folks who are dipping their toes into the genre. That said, this is no cookie-cutter record! Just a very straight forward and fun listen from cover to cover. For fans of fuzzed out riffs, vaguely pop songwriting, throwback gear, trying to recreate older sounds in modern times, etc. "Space Train," "All Of This Time" and "Hypnotised" are good tasters. Enjoy 🤘

Today's #AlbumGems is iconic. Jazz fusionists BADBADNOTGOOD hit their pinnacle with their album "IV." This album covers a lot of genres and soaks them all in a smokey dimly-lit jazz room. Super dry cymbal work, killer bass lines and iconic saxophone work. These folks gel perfectly with anyone they work with. Taster tracks include "Speaking Gently" and "Time Moves Slow" with guest vocals from the Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring. "Confessions Pt. II" is a proggy delight. HIGHLY REC'D!

Today's #AlbumGems comes from psychedelic post rockers Post Animal. Their latest release "Love GIbberish" is a lovely listen. Lots of straight forward rock riffs on display here, but their range is impressive. Taster tracks include "Puppy Dog," which has an amazing breakdown section and "Bolt from Above" which has a dizzying drum line and plenty of time sig tricks to keep the movement interesting. The breakdown in "Puppy Dog" makes the whole album worth it. Absolutely gorgeous and vibrant.

Time for another #AlbumGems, which is one of my favorites & from the first band I posted about on here:
"Floral Green" (2012) by Title Fight. Musically, the album builds off of "Shed", their 2011 freshman album, continuing to incorporate more shoegaze-y sounds into their music without sacrificing their hardcore nature.
Lyrically, the album covers topics of depression, love, friendships (both keeping and loosing), and general life in Northeast PA (which hits close to home for me personally).

Today's #AlbumGems is from Austin psychedelic rockers The Bright Light Social Hour and their super rad album "Space Is Still The Place." This album is for you if you like too-loud, reverb soaked electric guitar riffs, filtered vocals and copious amounts of spacey stereo effects. The roar of a sea of crash cymbal hits coats this album like a fine glaze. Taster tracks are "Sea of the Edge" and "Aperture." Grab your favorite analog delay, a substance of your choice and a good set of headphones. 😎

If you're into twitchy hardcore with big riff and bigger choruses then can I recommend Statues by Black Peaks. It's one of those albums that you'll wished you listened to sooner. A nice mix of clean vocals and screaming. #AlbumGems

https://open.spotify.com/album/3oNtLCKnPZgQ8KxH23hL70?si=d3sDTt-LQwqLwpLbaoMOQw

Today's #AlbumGems is 100% going to be a hot take since melodic hardcore is looked down upon by many, but I've never tried to be "normal", so fuck it: "Colourmeinkindness" (2012) by Basement.

Honestly, this album is one of my favorites, in one of my favorite genres. The shoegaze-y album is a mix of chill bops and songs that make you wanna throw yourself against others (respectfully OFC). And some that are good to cry to - a good mix of everything.

Another #AlbumGems in a very different direction. This will be polarizing, so if you're not into death metal either keep an open mind or go ahead and skip 😂

One of my fav death metal groups of all time, or even just bands period. "Nocturnal" by The Black Dahlia Murder is a white knuckle classic of newer death metal. Punishing blast beats, super sick lightning fast riffs, a vicious vocal section. I love every album by them, some of the newer ones are technically better, but this one is classic.

An #AlbumGems to start the week off! "Performance" by White Denim is a blast from start to finish. They're an Austin, TX based rock band that mixes fuzzy psychedelic rock, dub, jazz, horns, and traditional jam band tricks to create an interesting soup with time changes that will keep you on your toes. I like all of their albums, but this one is a toe tapper. Taster tracks include "Double Death" and "Moves On." If you like the vibe of these, I think you'll enjoy the band as a whole!

okay i have listened to this album like three times today i’m calling it an #AlbumGems

My #AlbumGems today is a brand new release that you all better listen to
"This Is Why" by Paramore came out today, and it is SO GOOD OMFG
Building off of the new wave-inspired "After Laughter" (2017), the bands first release in 5 1/2 years is a masterpiece of punk-funk, with influences from math rock, new wave, and art-rock.

Lyrics cover topics such as living in a polarized society, agoraphobia, getting better, and feelings of disassociation; among many other topics.

It's just a great album.