Not sure if anyone's made a thread of this sort yet. Far too early for album of the year, never too early for some good old fashioned
complaining though, right?

So...records that were especially hyped, records you personally had high hopes for, etc.

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

I'm a huge Smog fan, I thought 'Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle' was excellent, but (with the exception of the stellar 'Riding For The Feeling') this one sounds trite, totally played out. I recognise the whole singer-songwriter thing with folk/country influences is always at risk of that, but up to this point he always had strangeness, darkness or beauty on his side.

I've given it a number of listens in differing circumstances and it just bores or irritates me.

And what the fuck is with that jaunty flute? Get out of the studio, Picard.