Mastodon, "The Motherload"
Once More Around The Sun is definitely a Mastodon album, what with all their stylistic tics being present. But for the most part, it's all packaged in a much more accessible way. Much of this song, for example, really is just a half-step away from something like Soundgarden. I, of course, prefer the denser and more elaborate songs of their earlier albums, but this is still a decent listen.
Flop, "Regrets"
Flop's middle album is their only major label release, and I think the production doesn't really do them any favors. It's a fancier production, a little bit denser and polished than the first record, but that's not really the ideal way to listen to them. It's still full of great, tuneful power pop, but just a bit behind their other records.
Skinny Puppy, "Glass Houses"
You know what? I've always thought of Skinny Puppy's first album as being called "Bites and Remission", and today is the first time I realized that what I own is a CD containing their first album Bites and their debut EP Remission. Look, what can I say? Discogs didn't exist in 1989.
Swingin' Utters, "Jackie Jab"
Fuck yeah!
Wolves in the Throne Room, "I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots"
Hmm. Do the kids today who would have been listening to Joy Division and Skinny Puppy if they went to high school with me instead listen to stuff like Wolves in the Throne Room? I mean, almost certainly not, there's got to be no way that kids listen to anything that I do. But I guess I'm wondering what overly dramatic music goth kids listen to in order to piss their parents off?