“Oh, are my eyes closed?”

Great sound, very pleasant even if it’s not doing much to stand out. Still, it’s well made with great riffs, I can’t complain too much. Lovely pacing too, last 4 tracks are stellar. I can see myself returning to this and it growing on me. Please check out Pool Kids if you’re a fan of this!

Favourites: Glow, Devil, Jinx
Least favourites: Sick

This is an alright album that stagnates and doesn’t really develop across its runtime. A lot to like here, but an equal if not larger amount of forgettable tracks. Very relaxed production that I do enjoy, but it ends up fading into the background a lot. Starts and ends well, with a very disappointing middle section.

Favourites: Soul Unusual, Shoe Laces, Time Heals
Least favourites: Crumbs, Hard Times, Lazy

“But I am in the back, I’m standing”

With the sounds of Phoebe Bridgers and Bon Iver (mainly due to Sean Carey), Gia is singing! I love the impact of a primarily instrumental artist using their voice. The atmosphere is very lovely, even if it feels like it takes too much from its influences at times. Soft and pretty album.

Favourites: Dancing, Moon, Phone Screen
Least favourites: Cellular, Alive, Good Friend

Really tried to get into this, but it sounds so dated. The retro aesthetic with the synths didn’t capture my attention unfortunately, was hoping I’d get something more from this as I love Emily Haines, but oh well :(

Favourites: Loyal
Least favourites: Bomb, Crush Forever, Moral

“So teach me how to be all that you want”

Very mixed bag, but I love that it just does whatever it wants. Very nostalgic for me so it gets boosted because of that. Has many great songs, but many misses. Overall fun album despite the lack of consistency, its length does bring it down a bit though.

Favourites: Wait, Young Hearts, Can’t Catch Me
Least favourites: Man Up, Bad Girls, Sex

Really liked “Cringe” when I was younger, but never listened to the album it was from. Maybe I shouldn’t have. In a similar vein to the likes of The Lumineers, these are sweet in small doses, but get grating quick. For the most part it’s inoffensive folk-pop, though, nothing too special. He has a great voice that carries this album, alongside some nice moments here and there.

Favourites: Cringe, Hallucinogenics
Least favourites: Don’t Care, Dancing, Feel Good

“There'll come a day when we won't need love”

It’s fun! Not as ecstatic over it as I thought I’d be, but it’s a good time! A bit of a mixed bag, I find Byrnes vocal style interesting but it sometimes veers towards being too quirky. Hear a little Bowie here, perhaps due to Eno, and it’s a positive. Very eccentric album, though sometimes in one ear and out the other.

Favourites: Not In Love, River
Least favourites: Girls, Hungry

“I never really wanted your heart”

I love the tone of her voice. Some of the instrumentals here are a little plain, but they mostly compliment the vocals really well. The blend of genres really works too. Towards the end, it loses a bit of momentum, but its an overall pretty and calm debut that feels warm and homely.

Favourite: Blue Flower, She Hangs
Least favourite: Blood

Probably not the best introduction to Yes, this is a fairly standard pop rock album that isn’t very memorable for me. I enjoyed a few songs, but as a whole album, it became tedious very quickly :(

Favourites: Lonely Heart
Least favourites: Leave It, Our Song

Surprised by this! Doesn’t ever feel boring or like it’s dragging, which is impressive. Makes for great background music, but not so sure I’d return to it very often. I like the ambience near the end.

Favourite: 45:33
Least favourite: N/A

While a very interesting fusion of genres, it is a little too abrasive for the sake of being abrasive, I feel. A little gimmicky at moments too. Can't say I'd ever return to this, though I appreciate what it sets out to do.

Favourites: Öngyilkos vasárnap
Least favourites: Sikertelenség, Szamár madár, Hiszékeny

"Fire, where are you?"

Very poorly produced (compliment) DIY project that works very well. Very charming and small, functions well at what it sets out to do. I'm a sucker for spoken word quote samples.

Favourites: Marks, Untitled, Mythmaker
Least favourites: N/A

I'm counting this as the definitive version, as it includes number 19, something that is pretty essential to the experience. I think I'll write my thoughts track-by-track, feels like the best way to tackle something as large as this.

#1 (cliffs) -
A more-or-less flawless opening track, sets an alien tone in such a familiar way. Nostalgic and on the verge of foreboding, like taking shelter from something you know you'll have to face sooner or later.

#2 (radiator) -
If the ... read more

"You could hold it right in your hands collapsing and still not know"

A very cosy album, perfect for around a campfire. Starts very strong and coasts through with no complaints. I love the duo of bookend tracks. I wouldn't consider this Midwest Emo at all, it is definitely more alt-country. I know that as a genre, Midwest Emo has lost all meaning, but this doesn't fit the older definition nor the newer. Not in anyway the records fault, just something that confused me. Very ... read more

A trip down memory lane :( Maybe I’ve become jaded and more cynical, or maybe this is just the most sickening go-lucky bunch of tunes ever. I was partial to Mr. Ezra at some point in my life, and listening back for the first time in a while, that sends a genuine shudder down my spine. It’s seemingly earnest, but absolutely headache inducing in this dosage.

Somewhat thankfully, it’s bland and boring for the most part. “Shotgun” engaged my flight or flight, though. ... read more

Much like Modern Baseball, this has all the hallmarks of your new “Midwest Emo”, boiled down into an almost agitating, reductive and twee version of it. When I was younger, tracks like “40Hands” and “Gpa” were admittedly on rotation, but when I was younger, Lovejoy and George Ezra were also staples, so it’s more an indictment than anything else. Now it all rings a little hollow and vapid. I’ve grown out of it, I think. Thank god.

It’s a ... read more

An album that somehow became an essential face of Midwest Emo, it is one of the main reasons a hint of embarrassment comes when saying it’s one of my favourite genres. Because this is what most people are picturing (not to say some of the shit I listen do is any more vocally refined, but it beats this).

It’s not musically bankrupt, it’s a very basic yet passable sound, but the vocalist and lyrics here bring genuine harm to my soul. This hasn’t aged very well at all, ... read more

“Burning my soul to silver”

By all accounts, I should be head over heels for this, it just feels a bit much. Extremely impressive that this is entirely self made at 19-years-old, incredible quality and performance. There are moments that are absolutely killer, but the mix of genres feel at odds with one another, the spacey feel, the emo and the jazz feel like they’re playing independently rather than in harmony, each are very well executed, but it doesn’t come together ... read more

“I ran up the stairs just like you did”

While sometimes a little sickly sweet, it’s hard not to smile at this :) Very pretty and light couple of tracks, nothing too fancy.

Favourites: Things We Could Be
Least favourites: N/A

Despite all that is going on, I found it difficult to get anything from this :( Some definitely cool production techniques and sound use, I just wasn’t particularly drawn to any of it. The vocals are a bit extravagant for me, feels almost satirical. There was still a lot to like, and it being something I’m very much not familiar with made it a very fresh experience. I’m open to hearing more in a similar vein, just not sure if it’s something I’d return to or seek ... read more