Matt Montgomery

Personal thoughts, musings and the like

Top 40 '90s albums, #22: Elliott Smith — XO

A showcase from one of a generation's best songwriters

Top 40 '90s albums, #22: Elliott Smith — XO

Matt Montgomery|May 02, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #23: Guided by Voices — Bee Thousand

Guided By Voices at their lo-fi peak

Top 40 '90s albums, #23: Guided by Voices — Bee Thousand

Matt Montgomery|April 23, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #24: Dream Theater — Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory

An all-time great progressive metal album

Top 40 '90s albums, #24: Dream Theater — Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory

Matt Montgomery|April 13, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #25: Goldfinger — Hang-Ups

A brilliant ska punk album with a few notable flaws

Top 40 '90s albums, #25: Goldfinger — Hang-Ups

Matt Montgomery|April 08, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #26: Smog — Knock Knock

Bill Callahan's voice is as captivating as ever

Top 40 '90s albums, #26: Smog — Knock Knock

Matt Montgomery|April 07, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #27: Of Montreal — The Gay Parade

A triumph of Of Montreal's sparse indie pop sound

Top 40 '90s albums, #27: Of Montreal — The Gay Parade

Matt Montgomery|April 03, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #28: Slint — Spiderland

A foundational album in the post-rock and math-rock spheres

Top 40 '90s albums, #28: Slint — Spiderland

Matt Montgomery|April 02, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #29: The Dismemberment Plan — Emergency & I

Anxiety-ridden indie rock that speaks to universal experiences

Top 40 '90s albums, #29: The Dismemberment Plan — Emergency & I

Matt Montgomery|April 01, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #30: American Football — American Football

Heralds of midwest emo

Top 40 '90s albums, #30: American Football — American Football

Matt Montgomery|March 27, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #31: Belle and Sebastian — The Boy With The Arab Strap

Belle and Sebastian at the peak of their early-career songwriting

Top 40 '90s albums, #31: Belle and Sebastian — The Boy With The Arab Strap

Matt Montgomery|March 25, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #32: The High Llamas — Gideon Gaye

'90s chamber pop at its finest

Top 40 '90s albums, #32: The High Llamas — Gideon Gaye

Matt Montgomery|March 24, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #33: Low — Secret Name

A triumphant, contemplative masterpiece

Top 40 '90s albums, #33: Low — Secret Name

Matt Montgomery|March 20, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #34: Cornelius — Fantasma

A landmark Shibuya-kei album

Top 40 '90s albums, #34: Cornelius — Fantasma

Matt Montgomery|March 19, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #35: Ben Folds Five — Ben Folds Five

It's a great debut album with truly infectious energy

Top 40 '90s albums, #35: Ben Folds Five — Ben Folds Five

Matt Montgomery|March 18, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #36: Bright Eyes — Letting off the Happiness (1998)

Dreary or not, this spoke to teenage me

Top 40 '90s albums, #36: Bright Eyes — Letting off the Happiness (1998)

Matt Montgomery|March 17, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #37: Karate — The Bed is in the Ocean (1998)

Jazz chords, slowcore, post-rock — whatever it is, I love it

Top 40 '90s albums, #37: Karate — The Bed is in the Ocean (1998)

Matt Montgomery|March 16, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #38: Heavenly — Le Jardin de Heavenly (1992)

A foundational twee album

Top 40 '90s albums, #38: Heavenly — Le Jardin de Heavenly (1992)

Matt Montgomery|March 13, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #39: Mogwai — Come On Die Young (1999)

An excellent post-rock album

Top 40 '90s albums, #39: Mogwai — Come On Die Young (1999)

Matt Montgomery|March 12, 2026

Top 40 '90s albums, #40: Silver Jews — American Water (1998)

A classic from one of his generation's greatest lyricist

Top 40 '90s albums, #40: Silver Jews — American Water (1998)

Matt Montgomery|March 12, 2026