I never quite got The Smiths, Morrissey's voice has just never felt gravitating to me, it's very irritating. The echo of the title track is really obnoxious to me, it's also about a minute too long. Guitar is very cool, I've a feeling Marr is the highlight of The Smiths. I do not like "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" at all, not my thing. The next track is slightly better, but looking at these aggregated scores, I feel like I'm crazy. His delivery is a bit messy, which ... read more

The most impressive album by a 19 year old I can think of, I unfortunately struggle to get through this. The intro starts strong, I like how each instrument is introduced, but it all feels like a demonstration more than an emotive piece of art. Some pretty things happen in an order that just feels like showing off, rather than a complete or intentional project. It scatters through genres with no blending, irritating me slightly, there's no cohesion or meaning here. A lot of cool songs ... read more

"If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break"

This is obviously good, but I feel it's ever so slightly overrated. Not much here fully strikes at me (bar the obvious heavy hitters), even if it's well crafted and sounds great. I think his voice cramps the atmosphere for me a little, and while I like the more stripped back moments, some of the pacing feels off at times. "When the Levee Breaks" is one of the best closers I've ever heard, though. A very, ... read more

"You know the day destroys the night"

I don't know much at all about The Doors other than their prestigious reputation, so I'm excited to head in blind here. I'm liking this so far, love how prominent the drums are, Jim Morrison has the exact voice to fit this type of Rock. Some of these tracks get a little samey sound wise as it progresses. The keyboard in "Light My Fire" is mixed too loudly and gets very straining, but evens out nearer the finish line.

A ... read more

I've long gone without listening to The Beatles due to a mix of prejudice and disinterest, but I think it's high time I give the biggest band to ever be their time of day. I think my previous convictions remain mostly intact, this sounds a lot more dated than I thought it would. I know that this was an absurdly impressive feat for the time, and the instruments are played extremely well, most of it just sounds very plain to my ears :(

I absolutely acknowledge their influence, and ... read more

“Out of the sedentary confines I deem winter comes the spring”

Everything harmonises so well together, a ridiculously intricate EP that I can’t believe I didn’t check out sooner. I think I love “Mahal Kita” as a project more, but this is close in terms of pure technical skill and effort. They make these sprawling songs feel so concise. Absolutely adore the writing across this too, a very special release. Jesus, “Quilt” is unbelievable. This band ... read more

Longest 23 minutes of my life. For every small glimpse at something tolerable, there’s 10 other atrocities. I don’t know if this has just aged really badly or I’ve just hit my limit. Most of this is genuinely embarrassing to listen to, it’s trying so hard to be quirky and funny and failing miserably.

It throws so much at the wall to see what sticks and barely any of it is even listenable. Perhaps with relistens I could condition myself to tolerate some of this, as ... read more

“I believed in you, saviour, come save me”

I admit, I went into this with low hopes, given how saturated shoegaze and dream pop are, but I am pleasantly shocked. While it doesn’t do much original, it nails the production (self produced too!) which is essential to the experience. It’s difficult for me to dislike this. There’s a reason this sound has become so prevalent, it has such an allure to it.

I love the more ambient areas of this album, I think it adds a ... read more

For only being 28 minutes, this album does a lot with the time it has. A few moments nearer the end breach an almost dated pop cadence that isn’t my favourite, namely “Miracle” and the ensuing “Leap of Faith”. It feels a little plain.

It started strong but became quite weak and murky as it went on. Still, a relatively strong debut that tries to blend the old with the new, to varying degrees of success. “Numb” is an incredible track, though, wish the ... read more

I agree with the consensus that these songs don’t feel very fleshed out, but the ideas and production behind them are very solid. I think it was far too ambitious, and is deeply harmed by it being condensed to 26 minutes. Nothing had the time to even try to stick with me.

Even so, what I liked I really liked, which made me sort of resent the project for having so much potential and wasting it. Very fun and sporadic which I do like. It would’ve been better received as an EP, I ... read more

Although I enjoyed this to an extent, I just can’t see a reason for it? I understand it captured a certain sense of dread, and I like drone a lot, but I like it best when it is mixed with ambient or other instrumental work. This felt like what people who don’t like drone imagine drone is, stagnant with the same sound for over an hour. Even the piano at the end wasn’t enough cause for interest. I liked the ominous and quite relaxing nature, but I can’t justify a higher ... read more

Very much a Kate Bush essence to this release, it’s nice but not really grasping my attention. Sweet art pop that feels a little too derivative for me. Some nice guitar work here, and her vocals, of course, are stunning.

Favourites: Golden Air
Least favourites: Lovely The Day

“But the clarity lies in the direction of pain”

Great bedroom pop, very silky and dreamy, no complaints. Does get a little samey after a while, but there’s huge potential here. Feels a little unsure of the vibe it’s attempting to capture, slipping from sleepy pop to UK garage, which while I appreciate the switch up in sound, I’m still unsure if it fits.

Ironically, I did find myself wishing it leaned more in that garage/dance direction, felt much more complete ... read more

Thundercat is an interesting case, I love him in small doses, but his formula gets old very quick, so 15 tracks straight of the same bass fuelled, reverb drenched jazz fusion really starts to wear thin for me, unfortunately :(

A good array of features here, but they don’t do enough to save the overall experience for me. Feels very sludgy and repetitive, though fairly nice on the ears from time to time. His voice suffers the same issues, in which I start to just phase it out. An alright ... read more

“I’m wishing I had way more time with you”

It really is the year of electropop music. I’ve absolutely warmed up to the genre and its adjacents, starting with Ninajirachi’s album last year, and this here is heavily reminiscent of that project in ways. At times, it approaches being a little too derivative, but this is a rare case of it sounding good enough for me to look over it. Extremely addicting noises left and right, she’s a great voice for it too, it all ... read more

I really wish I got the hype because these guys seem so cool :( I’m just not feeling it, and I typically love math rock, this just doesn’t feel as eccentric as their reputation would suggest for me. Very technically impressive, but alike their first instalment, I’m not feeling anything from it other than admiration.

Favourites: Angor
Least favourites: N/A

Thought I’d give this a listen before their second album that has caught my interest, and I feel a little disappointed? I expected big things, and while these guys are very good at what they do, I feel I can get this experience in better ways from other bands (for example, Goat). Still a pleasant experience, but quite forgettable, and lacked any emotive response from me unfortunately. Maybe further listens will change my mind, but I don’t feel any impulse to return to ... read more

It’s harmless indie rock. These feel like the ideas of songs rather than songs themselves, the focus on catchy hooks over any discernible emotional impact doesn’t help and leaves a lot to be desired in terms of how I listen to music, but it’s well put together and a decent listen.

I just can’t get a read of what they were trying with this, it doesn’t really present anything of substance to dig into. “Tornado” did stick out to me, but the rest sort of ... read more

“I don't know how you house the sin, but you're free now”

Incredible that we finally got some of these live versions on streaming, especially the elusive “Heavenly Father”. The production here is very crisp, can hardly tell they’re even recorded live. I do wish Vernons famed falsetto took a bit of a backseat to let some of the instrumentals shine at points, but other than that, a great collection that leaves me excited for further volumes exploring other ... read more

“Future's not what it used to be, you are all whispers, all whispers”

A stunning collection of live tracks, brilliant performances and great mix of old and new songs. Feels huge and cathartic.

Favourites: Cause = Time, Get Better, Gonna Break
Least favourites: N/A