ULTRAPOP is a beautiful storm, dense, monstrous, vital, and aching to break free.
The naked ear will identify ‘ULTRAPOP’ as a colossal, mangled mess but beneath the walls of guitar, piston-like drumming and contorted electronics, there are songs and hooks but not as you’d expect.
Aptly named, Ultrapop administers a constant barrage of sonic information that shows no delineation between discomfort, reassurance, pain, or pleasure.
As madcap of a concept as ULTRAPOP appears to be, its musical thrust feels purposeful in its creation and curation.
Ultrapop is less a record than it is an artistic statement, a defiant ‘fuck you’ to any and all perceptions of what a heavy band should and could be.
Well color me impressed. The Armed deliver a dense, noisy, post hardcore album that immerses you in a cacophonous wave of sound. Ultrapop production-wise is less akin to your average release in the genre and more to that with a hazy, drugged-out atmosphere that makes each track all that much more harrowing. On top of that, the song writing is absolutely killer featuring a banger after banger. This is definitely one that I'll be coming back from throughout the rest of the year, and I'm excited ... read more
upon reading the title and seeing the cover, one may expect this to be a nice sounding pop album. and upon hearing the first track, this expectation is somewhat confirmed. even though the bass and drums are a bit harsh, the vocals and synth are reminiscent of a beautiful art pop song. but then al futures kicks in and you realize you were dead wrong. this is a noisy and abrasive, yet beautiful post hardcore album. it also dabbles in shoegaze and noise pop at times but for the most part, post ... read more
i'd give this 100 if big shell hadn't made the cut
top 3: all futures, an iteration, bad selection
aotd
really interesting and innovative album, but i don’t love the sound that they go for on here. i’m seeing them tonight though, hoping that they’re good live. i expect nothing less, cuz this is full of energy.
FAV TRACK: An Iteration
1 | Ultrapop 2:43 | 79 |
2 | All Futures 3:04 | 75 |
3 | Masunaga Vapors 2:30 | 68 |
4 | A Life So Wonderful 3:07 | 69 |
5 | An Iteration 2:53 | 77 |
6 | Big Shell 3:17 | 67 |
7 | Average Death 4:31 | 73 |
8 | Faith In Medication 3:46 | 69 |
9 | Where Man Knows Want 2:56 | 65 |
10 | Real Folk Blues 3:38 | 68 |
11 | Bad Selection 3:44 | 72 |
12 | The Music Becomes a Skull 2:38 feat. Mark Lanegan | 63 |
#3 | / | Treble |
#6 | / | A.V. Club |
#7 | / | Northern Transmissions |
#8 | / | Paste |
#11 | / | The Alternative |
#14 | / | The Quietus |
#15 | / | Revolver |
#15 | / | The New York Times: Jon Caramanica |
#21 | / | Our Culture |
#22 | / | No Ripcord |