Hot Wax ’26

The idea is to return to the time before playlists as it pertains to listening to music… first we had vinyl, play side one, then flip the record over and listen to side two… that was the sweet spot I think… cassettes dovetailed into vinyl with the same two-sided experience… then came CD’s where you would listen to an entire album in its entirety… all three of these mediums lent themselves to artists ‘sequencing’ albums in a start to finish manner that became the presentation for that collection of songs… but with the advent and now complete proliferation of streaming, playlists became the thing… the equivalent of what we used to call the ‘mixtape’… although mixtapes were much more labor intensive to put together, so there weren’t that many of them relatively speaking… but playlists, ultimately just collections of favorite songs… supplanted the act of listeners enjoying albums as a whole, in sequence, as the artist intended for them to be heard… so in my life, I’m making a concerted effort to listen to complete albums again… usually while I’m exercising, one or two a day… the following are the albums I’ve listened to this year, organized by decade so I can visually keep listens balanced.


Updated : 5/16/2026 @ 13:49
2026 Running Total : (218)


2020’s

  • hexed! – aya (2025) ★★★
  • The Vandalist – Noga Erez (2024) ★★★★
  • Fetch the Bolt Cutters – Fiona Apple (2020) ★★★★
  • Rumble of Thunder – The Hu (2022) ★★★½
  • Secret Love – Dry Cleaning (2026) ★★★½
  • e.t.d.s. A Mixtape by i.d.k. – IDK (2026) ★★★½
  • Doppler Affection – The Cost (2025) ★★½
  • Never Enough – Turnstile (2025) ★★★
  • Entertainment, Death – Spirit of the Beehive (2021) ★★★
  • Strangers (EP) – Queen Kwong (2024) ★★★½
  • Who Is The Sky? – David Byrne (2025) ★★★½
  • Imposter – David Gahan, Soulsavers (2021) ★★★
  • We Mean It, Man! – Gogol Bordello (2026) ★★★½
  • Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime – Beck (2026) ★★★
  • The Year of Madness – Father of Peace (2024) (3) ★★★★
  • Days of Ash (EP) – U2 (2026) ★★★★
  • Cool It Down – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2022) ★★★½
  • petal rock black – Willow (2026) ★★★★
  • You Heartbreaker, You – Jehnny Beth (2025) ★★★½
  • Fall Back (EP) – Florence Road (2025) ★★★½
  • The Drive Home (EP) – Samara Cyn (2024) ★★★½
  • Dancing Shoes (EP) – Nilüfer Yanya (2025) ★★★
  • God Games – The Kills (2023) ★★★½
  • Play Me – Kim Gordon (2026) ★★★½
  • New Long Leg – Dry Cleaning (2021) ★★★½
  • Other Worlds – The Pretty Reckless (2022) ★★★½
  • Creature of Habit – Courtney Barnett (2026) ★★★
  • No Separation (EP) – MSPAINT (2025) ★★½
  • Irreversible – Brigitte Calls Me Baby (2026) ★★★½
  • Trickle Down (EP) – SPRINTS (2026) ★★★
  • KIDS – Noga Erez (2021) ★★★★
  • Pull Like a Dog – The Scratch (2026) ★★★½
  • Point – Yello (2020) ★★★½
  • Love in the Afterlife – Kids In America (2022) ★★★
  • gutta child (EP) – Gabriel Jacoby (2025) ★★★½
  • Nine Inch Noize – Nine Inch Nails & Boys Noize (2026) ★★★½
  • Paris In The Spring – Alexis Taylor (2026) ★★★
  • If We’re Really Being Honest – The Defiant (2023) ★★★½
  • Baggy$$ (EP) – Fcukers (2024) ★★★½
  • SHISH – Portugal. The Man (2025) ★★★½
  • This Music May Contain Hope – RAYE (2026) ★★★★
  • Singles (EP) – Grace Ives (2025) ★★½
  • Ö – Fcukers (2026) ★★★½
  • Fantasies of a Stay at Home Psychopath – The Blinders (2020) ★★★½
  • Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice (2025) ★★★
  • The Cage (EP) – Billy Idol (2022) ★★★½
  • The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy – The Claypool Lennon Delirium (2026) ★★★½
  • Lonely Guest – Lonely Guest & Tricky (2021) ★★★½
  • The Afterparty – Lykke Li (2026) ★★★
  • Stumpwork – Dry Cleaning (2022) ★★★½

2010’s

  • Royal Blood – Royal Blood (2014) ★★★
  • Blackstar – David Bowie (2015) ★★★½
  • Off the Radar – Noga Erez (2017) ★★★★
  • Transmission Remixes, Pt.1 – Boys Noize (2010) ★★★
  • Muse – Polyphia (2014) ★★★
  • Out of Our Minds – Melissa Auf der Maur (2010) ★★★½
  • Midnight Sun – GOASTT (2014) ★★★½
  • El Camino – The Black Keys (2011) ★★★½
  • MASSEDUCTION – St. Vincent (2017) ★★★½
  • Dogrel – Fontaines D.C. (2019) ★★★
  • Boarding House Reach – Jack White (2018) ★★★★
  • La Carotte Bleue – GOASTT (2011) ★★★½
  • havoc and bright lights – Alanis Morissette (2012) ★★★½
  • The Whole Buzz (EP) – The Scratch (2019) ★★★
  • Columbia – The Blinders (2018) ★★★½
  • Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels (2014) ★★★½
  • Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. Two – Beastie Boys (2011) ★★★★
  • Four Foot Shack – Les Claypool (2014) ★★★½
  • Blood Pressures – The Kills (2011) ★★★½

2000’s

  • Introns – LCD Soundsystem (2006) ★★★
  • Skittish – Mike Doughty (2004) ★★★½
  • No Wow – The Kills (2005) ★★★½
  • The Grand Pecking Order – Oysterhead (2001) ★★★½
  • And All That Could Have Been – Nine Inch Nails (2002) ★★★½
  • Uh Huh Her – PJ Harvey (2004) ★★★½
  • (ONe) – The Panic Channel (2006) ★★★½
  • Trust No One – Dave Navarro (2001) ★★★½
  • Icky Thump – The White Stripes (2007) ★★★★
  • Haughty Melodic – Mike Doughty (2005) ★★★½
  • 45:33 – LCD Soundsystem (2006) ★★★
  • White Pony – Deftones (2000) ★★★½
  • Ruckus – Galactic (2003) ★★★½
  • Lord of the Harvest – Zillatron (2004) ★★★½
  • Strays – Jane’s Addiction (2003) ★★★★
  • Auf der Maur – Melissa Auf der Maur (2004) ★★★★
  • The Eminem Show – Eminem (2002) ★★★½
  • Musicology – Prince (2004) ★★★½
  • The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga (2009) ★★★½
  • Modern Guilt – Beck (2008) ★★★½
  • Golden Delicious – Mike Doughty (2008) ★★★½
  • Songs for the Deaf – Queens of the Stoneage (2002) ★★★½
  • De-Loused In The Comatorium – The Mars Volta (2003) ★★★½
  • Untrue – Burial (2007) ★★★½
  • Tame Impala (EP) – Tame Impala (2008) ★★★
  • Worldwide Underground – Erykah Badu (2003) ★★★
  • Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People – Primus (2003) ★★★½

1990’s

  • Surrender – The Chemical Brothers (1999) ★★★½
  • Violator – Depeche Mode (1990) ★★★★
  • Geek The Girl – Lisa Germano (1994) ★★★½
  • Empire – Queensrÿche (1990) ★★★½
  • The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion – The Black Crowes (1992) ★★★★
  • Brown Album – Primus (1997) ★★★
  • Wish – The Cure (1992) (2) ★★★★
  • Star (EP) – The Cult (1994) ★★★½
  • Repeater – Fugazi (1990) ★★★
  • Evil Empire – Rage Against the Machine (1996) ★★★½
  • Live Television – The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (1992) ★★½
  • Homogenic – Björk (1997) ★★★½
  • Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) ★★★½
  • Opiate (EP) – Tool (1992) ★★★
  • Dusk – The The (1993) ★★★½
  • The Gate to the Mind’s Eye – Thomas Dolby (1994) ★★★½
  • A Little Ain’t Enough – David Lee Roth (1991) ★★★½
  • Siamese Dream – The Smashing Pumpkins (1993) ★★★★
  • Blue Lines – Massive Attack (1991) ★★★★
  • Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins (1995) ★★★★
  • Which Doobie U B? – Funkdoobiest (1993) ★★½
  • Cool and Steady and Easy – Brooklyn Funk Essentials (1995) ★★★½
  • Gish – The Smashing Pumpkins (1991) ★★★½
  • International Pop Overthrow – Material Issue (1991) ★★½
  • Wild Mood Swings – The Cure (1996) ★★★½
  • ’93 til Infinity – Souls of Mischief (1993) ★★★½
  • Dirt – Alice In Chains (1992) ★★★½

1980’s

  • In Your Face – Fishbone (1986) ★★★
  • Lovesexy – Prince (1988) ★★★½
  • This Is Big Audio Dynamite – Big Audio Dynamite (1986) ★★★½
  • Oh, No! It’s Devo – Devo (1982) ★★★
  • Combat Rock – The Clash (1982) ★★★½
  • 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Midnight Oil (1982) ★★★★
  • The Power Station – The Power Station (1985) ★★★½
  • Skyscraper – David Lee Roth (1988) ★★★½
  • Floodland – The Sisters of Mercy (1987) ★★★½
  • Boi-Ngo – Oingo Boingo (1987) ★★★½
  • 4 – Foreigner (1981) ★★★½
  • Zenyatta Mondatta – The Police (1980) ★★★★
  • Love At First Sting – Scorpions (1984) ★★★½
  • Psychocandy – The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985) ★★★
  • Seventeen Seconds – The Cure (1980) ★★★★
  • Faith – The Cure (1981) ★★★½
  • Under a Blood Red Sky (Live) – U2 (1983) ★★★½
  • One Second – Yello (1987) ★★★★
  • Empty Glass – Pete Townshend (1980) ★★★½
  • Chronic Town (EP) – R.E.M. (1982) ★★★
  • Pornography – The Cure (1982) ★★★½
  • The Top – The Cure (1984) ★★★½
  • The Head on the Door – The Cure (1985) (2) ★★★★
  • Remain In Light – Talking Heads (1980) ★★★★
  • Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me – The Cure (1987) ★★★½
  • Dare – The Human League (1981) ★★★
  • Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) – Eurythmics (1983) ★★★
  • Parade – Prince (1986) ★★★
  • Billy Idol – Billy Idol (1982) ★★★
  • Mirror Moves – The Psychedelic Furs (1984) ★★★
  • The Golden Age of Wireless – Thomas Dolby (1982) ★★★½
  • The Flat Earth – Thomas Dolby (1984) ★★★½
  • The Uplift Mofo Party Plan – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1987) ★★★★
  • Aliens Ate My Buick – Thomas Dolby (1988) ★★★★
  • One On One – Cheap Trick (1982) ★★★½
  • Controversy – Prince (1981) ★★★½
  • Back In Black – AC/DC (1980) ★★★★
  • Mudhoney – Mudhoney (1989) ★★★
  • Truth and Soul – Fishbone (1985) ★★★★
  • Permanent Vacation – Aerosmith (1987) ★★★½

1970’s

  • London Calling – The Clash (1979) ★★★★
  • Made in the Shade – the Rolling Stones (1975) ★★★½
  • The Cars – The Cars (1978) ★★★½
  • Tago Mago – Can (1971) ★★★
  • Chicago IX – Chicago (1975) ★★★½
  • Rocks – Aerosmith (1976) ★★★
  • Risqué – Chic (1979) ★★★½
  • Frampton Comes Alive! (Live) – Peter Frampton (1976) ★★★½
  • Diamond Dogs – David Bowie (1974) ★★★½
  • Stranger in the Night (Live) – UFO (1979) ★★★½
  • Black Sabbath, Vol.4 – Black Sabbath (1972) ★★★½
  • Van Halen II – Van Halen (1979) ★★★½
  • Three Imaginary Boys – The Cure (1979) ★★★
  • Darkness on the Edge of Town – Bruce Springsteen (1978) ★★★★
  • Secret Treaties – Blue Öyster Cult (1974) ★★★★
  • Machine Head – Deep Purple (1972) ★★★½
  • Heaven Tonight – Cheap Trick (1978) ★★★½
  • In Through The Out Door – Led Zeppelin (1978) ★★★½
  • Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen (1975) ★★★★
  • Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin (1975) ★★★★
  • Heroes – David Bowie (1977) ★★★★

1960’s & Earlier

  • Strange Days – The Doors (1967) ★★★½
  • The Monkees – The Monkees (1966) ★★★

Nic Rotondo

Nic Rotondo is the primary designer and sole proprietor of the optiflux|mediatribe. A '95 graduate of the School of the Art Institute Chicago, Nic has provided graphics, websites, presentation media and motion graphics for varied clients across North America.

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