One of the most old man things I’ve ever heard myself say is to comment on how quickly the year has gone by. But, really. It’s July? We’re already past the All-Star Break? It’s hot out? (Purportedly. Still gloriously foggy and chill by Ocean Beach.) It does seem as though the first half of 2016 has gone by in a blur… until I look back at the list of albums I’ve enjoyed since January. Here are five of my favorites, as well as a link to a bite-sized playlist of representative tunes, courtesy of the Idle Time Mixcloud.
Hinds – Leave Me Alone
January 8
Those two ladies from Madrid whose “Trippy Gum” made its way onto every other playlist I made in the summer of 2014 (back when they were known as Deers) became a four-piece last year, and then opened twenty-sixteen with this record, their outstanding debut LP. There’s a wild, carefree zest to their brand of jangly lo-fi rock n’ roll that reminds me of Love Is All. Despite releasing in January, Leave Me Alone hasn’t left my rotation alone yet this year.
♫
The new Thermals’ LP, We Disappear, is their best since ’06’s The Body, The Blood, The Machine and one of my favorite releases in the young year. This single, taken from the album, is major standout, and it even got a sweet 7″ release for Record Store Day (the B-side is killer too). And, by the way, kee-rist. Y’all are one of the best punk bands of our generation. Put out some more seven-inches fer crying out loud. 
The Institute of Idle Time 