King Tuff – Was Dead
It’s a tight, consistent, and unbelievably catchy rock album that quickly and effectively defined who and what “King Tuff” was, stuffed with killer guitar solos, infectiously sunny hooks, and lyrics that come off like personality-defining mantras. If you were at all familiar with Thomas’ other work, the immediacy of Was Dead probably came as a surprise. But this was the album he’d been hoping to make all along: “There’s been a few diversions into other types of music, but I’ve pretty much always had a rock’n’roll heart.” Read the full review on Pitchfork

The National – Trouble Will Find Me
With every new album the band continues to mystify with their amazing presence and spirit and it’s no different with Trouble Will Find Me. A repetitive verse that reads more like poetry than lyrics, the narrator is disappointed by a lover that got away and how petty arguments always were the distraction. The music is pensive with a chorus that features choir-like backgrounds and a bass line that permeates throughout. And the whole time, you’re left with this vision of the narrator, alone, with nothing but the lost memories of what could have been. And like beautiful The National fashion, each ensuing song is a vivid recounting about some kind of love that might have been and the lesson learned. Read the full review on Delusions of Adequacy

Queens of the Stone Age – Like Clockwork
Though there has been plenty of buzz about ‘…Like Clockwork’s’ all-star contributors, the core four-piece has ample room to shine. The album opens with the darkly intoxicating opener ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled,’ an experimental track with Homme offering falsetto as Scissor Sisters singer Jake Shears contributes backing vocals. But things venture into more accessible territory with the standout track ‘I Sat By the Ocean.’ This traditional rocker features an infectious ‘Good Times Roll’ guitar lick and a swagger that just swings. Read the full review on Loudwire