It may not hit the mark every time, but her adventurous, unapologetic approach to driving pop forwards to exciting new ground should be praised.

Each of the nine tracks holds its own.

She has a way of expressing herself with such brutal honesty and conviction, it can be a little alarming at times, but qualities like those only serve to make everything she touches on all the more palpable, and they are also part of what makes Sore such an impressive and refreshing debut.

There is no tweed/banjo suffocation here, and the hands-aloft brand of folk that Horse Thief have stumbled upon only strengthens the power of what are finely-honed pieces of intelligent songwriting.

There is restraint here, an alien concept for a band of Lightning Bolt’s usual undiluted abandon, but there is also the gleeful harshness which makes them such a force of the underground music scene.

It absolutely is [worthwhile]--engrossing you from first hammer blow to last squeak.

On Hermits on Holiday they have knocked out nine fascinating tracks with effortless skill.

They’ve dredged up their youthful feelings and animated them in both honest and affectionate tones, and it makes You Might Be Smiling Now… a joyous rummage through swathes of bleary nostalgia.

A Season in Hull is a cast-off gem, another diamond in a career of low-key marvels.

Albums like this are refreshing for that exact reason; you actually have to have enough patience to allow the beauty and grace of her work to reveal itself, but in the end your patience is more than rewarded.

It's a thoroughly considered record, demonstrating that Rodriguez's personal and artistic growth are far from mutually exclusive.

At its peak, Boo Boo is Toro Y Moi’s most luxurious, if not remarkably lush effort since 2011’s Underneath the Pine.

Compton exists now as a reminder to the current oversaturated pit of modern rap that legends aren't born overnight and there will never be another Dr. Dre. Hip-hop's first billionaire hasn't forgotten where he comes from so let's not forget what he's done to get here.

There Existed An Addiction to Blood is shocking, insightful and unlike any other hip hop release this year, and quite possibly Clipping’s most impressive work to date.

That deeply empathic acknowledgment of the darkness that chases us coupled with messages of positivity to help us keep running, keep moving forward, and stay ahead of that same darkness. More so than the volume of the guitars or drums, or the feral power of Monks’ screams, it's this that makes Heaven feel so damn heavy.

Regardless of its leanings towards the descents into gloom, Go Dig My Grave retains a gorgeous edge, Susanna’s vocals are alluring as ever, on one of her most unique projects to date.

Blank Realm have offered up another album that refuses to reveal itself right away, and instead, it gradually lures you in and rewards you with previously overlooked gems with each listen.

Far from diving deeper into the bleak, sonic maelstrom that has characterised most of their work, Pe'ahi is their most open, emotional record to date.

What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World is scored through with the group's idiosyncracies--there's certainly no loss of identity here--but what there is, as well, is maturity, ambition and variety, all of which conspire to form the basis of a very fine indie rock record--and there's no strings attached to that qualification.

This album might not do anything particularly revolutionary, but as an example of affable, nuanced power-pop, it is hard to beat.

Evidently, the Worth EP was quite literally worth the wait.

There are not many people out there doing retro-sounding albums that aren't a mere repetition of something that's already been done several years before (and probably better), but Diane Coffee manages to be hopelessly nostalgic without sounding déjà vu.

Rather than being a tearjerker, C'est la Vie instead serves as something of a safeguard, a protective companion, a generous friend down paths of memory we may never have intended to traverse again, and that we'd shudder to travel alone. Phosphorescent's music is as giving and truly kind as ever.

Certainly some tracks could use grounding and a smidgeon of common substance to prevent a stupefying hypnosis--but in many ways that's the appeal.

Finally, she has stepped out into the light, her outward-facing confidence having infused her music with a timeless joy.

Hinds have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with on Leave Me Alone.

Ephorize signals the true genesis of a fully realized, ambitious voice in hip hop.

Feeling comfortable is not something neo, and by extension So Pitted, is concerned with. Instead, exploration of the darkness and sickness of life are the key drivers and if neo is any indication, it is pretty compelling material.