Coachella is once again coming close and we’ve finally been given the full line-up for this year’s adventure in the desert and it’s not good.

It’s been almost twenty years since the original Coachella, a weekend in the desert headlined by Beck, Tool and Rage Against The Machine, three-acts that could truly stand at the same site today and create something.

Now in 2018, we’ve been reduced to a very weak bill with very few great picks. Headlined by The Weeknd, Beyoncé and Eminem, noting the first time three mainstream pop-acts have headlined Coachella.

That’s a main point with this year’s festival, the disappearence of rock. After Radiohead‘s technically distracted-yet-mesmerising set last year, it’s strange seeing an obvious neglecting of rock acts.

Simply put, there’s only a handful of of rock acts between the almost 200 acts, and even the standout genre bands are lost in the fray.

Mainly, the astonishing X JAPAN are lost in the middle of Saturday while they will likely steal the show. Oh Sees, Mild High Club, Angel Olsen, Cherry Glazzer, Benjamin Booker and Rolling Coastal Blackouts Fever will all become notable entries on reviews, but they’re just lost in the generic Coachella bill. However, it’s brilliant that A Perfect Circle take on Eminem.

Friday features two of the festival’s only standout impressive acts with Jamiroquai and Jean-Michael Jarre, while Saturday includes X JAPAN and CHIC Feat. Nile Rodgers and Sunday just doesn’t include anything you likely won’t see elsewhere.

The Good:

• The funky brilliance of Jamiroquai finally takes to Empire Polo Club with a very well requested slot and with their well-acclaimed shows, it’s unmissable.
• The Weeknd is the only headliner worth watching, with his chilling imagry and his catalogue of striking pop-tunes. With Starboy taking his career skyhigh, it is time for him to headline. Bonus note, Daft Punk may make their return to the field for the duo “I Feel It Coming” and “Starboy“, and hey, Lana Del Rey could even do that brief “Stargirl“.
• The return of HAIM and St. Vincent, while Annie Clark takes to Coachella with her fourth appearence, 2018 will mark only HAIM‘s second set at the festival.
• X JAPAN bringing their legendary brand of all-out rock to Saturday, beforehand make sure you watch their brilliant We Are X documentary from last year.
• Portugal. The Man. taking a heavy slot finally, while brilliant newer acts such as Princess Nokia, BØRNS, Bleachers, Sigrid, Japanese Breakfast, Rolling Coastal Blackouts Fever are all shaping nicely.
• A Perfect Circle going against Eminem on Sunday.
• The War on Drugs, Fleet Foxes with their fantastic, mellow performances.
• Perfume Genius, Chromeo, Jungle, Django Django and Alt-J will all impress live.
• The in-your-face EDM is pretty much gone.
• Soulwax.

The Bad:

• The surprises is gone. The days of finding out about Coachella’s off-the-wall underbill isn’t really here anymore and there’s nobody that will bring it back…well, unless Daft Punk make a likely appearence with The Weeknd.
• “Ah, I’ll see them at Lollapalooza“. If you’re going to hit one, there’s really not much to be missed (see the good above).
• Migos really? It’s 2018, do we really need these at the top of the bill? It’s worse that they’re before Eminem.
• Destiny’s Child. It’s very likely going to happen, but it won’t add anything. It would be a negative look for Beyoncé to wear.
• Everything.

Coachella isn’t far away, but we’re not counting down the days.