Since I've been listening to CHVRCHES much more recently I thought I'd redo my shitty Screen Violence review. As the barren landscape of 2021 music went on from September onwards, I realised more and more how much I didn't appreciate Screen Violence. It's a smart, extremely different cut of pop compared to anything as of recent, with thoughtful and catchy lyrics, as well as production that is absolutely staggering. After listening to 3 of the groups' albums now, not only can I easily say that ... read more

On Every Open Eye, CHVRCHES take everything they learned within their debut and apply it to a more catchy and audacious sound. It's a much louder and more sonically diverse listen than their first album, and Lauren's vocals improve tenfold, heard especially on tracks like Make Them Gold. I also enjoyed Martin Doherty's vocals much more on this album than the last, because I don't think that High Enough to Carry You Over would've actually worked with Lauren's voice.

As a group I must say that I ... read more

Peripheral Vision is a delicate and wonderful cut of indie, with Turnover making an intimate yet mellowed experience. The whole album flows very nicely, and the lyrics (which get a little emo-esque at points) are personal enough to engage with the band and make their words seem hard hitting. In summary, a sweet and dreamy listen.

Favourite Song: Hello Euphoria

Best: Cutting My Fingers Off, New Scream, Humming, Dizzy On the Comedown, Diazepam, Like Slow Disappearing, Take My Head, I Would ... read more

Oh, what's this? Reuniting one of the best rock frontmen with one of the greatest drummers of all time and also including the bassist from what is considered one of the greatest bands of all time for an album that sounds like my favourite band did a secret side project? Ah yes, I'll definitely hate this.

Them Crooked Vultures has all the fundamentals for an incredible supergroup, and for the most part they carry out this expected quality since they're literally three of the most prestigious ... read more

After listening to two CHVRCHES albums that are better than this debut, I can't really see myself listening to this much compared to their other efforts, but hey it's still pretty good! It's a fun cut of alt synth-pop, but after the phenomenal Screen Violence and the equally good Every Open Eye, I know that this group can do better, especially with Lauren's vocals. Her voice only seems to improve after every album, but sadly on here her voice gets kind of ropey at points, but in fairness every ... read more

What if you took Radiohead's sound up to the point of Kid A and made an album that doesn't really do anything special or unique, and isn't even that memorable bar a few tracks, but kind of just exists as a pretty decent culmination of everything that the band represents? Well that's Hail To The Thief, the most Radiohead-y album and also the most forgettable Radiohead album on par with Amnesiac.

Hail To The Thief sounded, to my surprise, extremely similar to Amnesiac, just with some ... read more

Compared to ODD Eye Circle, this sub group is definitely more lacking in terms of punchy choruses and musicality in general. There's still some nice and sweet k-pop at its core, especially with love4eva which is a banger, but overall it's a fairly lacklustre and forgettable EP.

Favourite Song: love4eva

Best: dal segno, rendezvous 18.6y

Worst: frozen

Untrue is a solemn yet groovy cut of electronic music, which is extremely touching despite there being no lyrics or meanings behind it. Burial paints a lonely yet interesting world within his production and takes garage music up to another level. I did have problems with this album however, mainly with the pacing of certain tracks. Some tracks are very energetic and hard hitting especially with the drum samples, but as soon as the drums or chopped vocals cut out (which are in my opinion the ... read more

Visions sees the more atmospheric side of Grimes rather than the art pop side which would flourish later on in Art Angels. It's a very vibey and spaced out experience, with some great production and some varying levels of vocals from Grimes. She seems very raspy on this album, when really she should be projecting her voice more. The production on the other hand is the key player at hand, and it's unbelievable to think that this was entirely made in Garageband. Like what the hell? How's that ... read more

I don't really get on well with a number of what are considered the greatest rock albums of all time, and this is one of them. It has pleasant vibes but the music itself feels inconsequential and unimpactful, probably due to its age. Plus I can't help but think of Love Actually and the Sky adverts when I listen to the two biggest tracks, which is sadly a bad thing.

/mu/ is going to hunt me down soon.

Favourite Song: God Only Knows

Best: Wouldn't It Be Nice, That's Not Me

Worst: Let's Go ... read more

Grace is the sole piece of delicate and touching work of art that was curated by Jeff Buckley prior to his untimely death. If you're ever going to make one single album before you never can again, then making something like Grace is the best way to go. An emotional bid with some great writing and intimacy from a one of a kind singer songwriter. None of the songs feel like they can be listened to separately, since this is all one huge, sad and almost hour long experience which desires an entry ... read more

From the two projects I have heard from twigs, one word which I'd never think to call her music is boring. So it's really weird to then hear twigs put little to no thought or originality into this mixtape whatsoever. It feels incredibly mediocre and samey all throughout, with interludes that only seem to annoy and irritate the listen through. I really enjoyed the only single for this album (being the stripped back banger 'tears in the club'), and that had me thinking that this release was going ... read more

This is the first K-pop project/album that I've listened to, and I have to say I enjoyed it quite a bit. Despite not knowing what they're saying, it's still addictive and pleasant to listen to, with production that's totally overblown but in the best possible way. Some of the songs feel a little less impactful than others, but overall it's still a great project from one of LOONA's three sub groups.

Girl Front is probably the best song ever.

Favourite Song: Girl Front

Best: Sweet Crazy ... read more

I Disagree exhibits Pop metal madness with a hybrid that pans out pretty well despite the two genres' differences. The great contrast between the sweetness and the bitterness of this album is something to behold for sure, and something that Poppy is able to put forwards really well. For example when she says "Bury me six feet deep and just cover me in concrete please turn me into a street" it's somehow the most adorable line of the whole album. It's like there's two worlds which the ... read more

Hmm yeah I don't know I think it could use more screaming.

Some lovely metalcore for blasting your ears out and numbing your thoughts for 45 minutes. For the most part it's great to just zone out with all the chaos going on, but at times there's real beauty hidden within Jane Doe such as with the more melodically haunting parts of tracks like with the self titled song. Nonetheless my ears are still bleeding in the best possible way.

Favourite Song: Jane Doe

Best: Concubine, Fault and ... read more

Experimental pop has no limits apparently because Arca can shift music into whatever she wants it to be. It's a weird album for sure, but a greatly enjoyable one at the same time. Fantastic features, great production and solid vocals. It didn't warp my perspective on experimental music but that didn't stop it from being a great experience. Now to listen to KiCk LXIX and the other 700 KiCk albums that released last year.

Favourite Song: KLK

Best: Nonbinary, Time, Mequetrefe, Riquiquí, ... read more

An iconic piece of gangsta rap which will probably remain as one of the biggest benchmarks for hip hop for all of time. The lyrical storytelling and the ahead of their time beats really work wonders for Biggie. It's literally just the needless sex interludes and the huge length of the album which makes it hard to come back to.

Favourite Song: Juicy

Best: Things Done Changed, Gimme the Loot, Machine Gun Funk, Warning, Everyday Struggle, Big Poppa, Respect, Suicidal Thoughts,

Worst: ... read more

Death Grips has been silent for almost 2 years now.

Favourite Song: All

Best: All

Worst: All

So apparently all I needed to make shoegaze interesting was screaming and metal influences. This album is utterly sensational, a beautiful yet haunting listen from start to finish. My only problem is that I can really feel the length of the album, and that I fret I can't listen to the individual songs since it feels so much like an album experience. Still though, wow. My ears hurt but my heart is blessed.

Favourite Song: Sunbather

Best: Dream House, Irresistible, Please Remember, Vertigo, ... read more

I can smell the salty tears of RapTok and Instagram Rap pages from a mile away. The fact that there's no trap beats on this album is going to piss off entire annoying online communities and I'm all here for it. The synths are too much for their Certified Lover Boy defending ears.

So, last year my first 2021 album was TYRON, which sucked pretty hard, so it's an understatement to say that I was prepared to be disappointed towards whatever my first 2022 album was going to be. That was until The ... read more