Amber Mark - Three Dimensions Deep
77

Absolutely gorgeous modern R&B that impresses even more so considering this is Amber Mark's debut. Where will she go from here? Hopefully only further into the stratosphere.

Krallice - Crystalline Exhaustion
90

Similar to how Kaatayra's surprise masterpiece from two years ago demonstrated black metal's ability to retain its power even with all acoustic instruments, this new gem from Krallice is another revelation for the genre by largely replacing the expected downtuned guitars with gorgeous icy synth pads while leaving the drum elements untouched. This change up is apparently due to the fact that all of the band members, aside from drummer Lev Weinstein, switched instruments with each other and ended ... read more

Silvana Estrada - Marchita
70

Lovely singing. Lovely instrumentation. Lovely music.

Etran de L'Aïr - Agadez
78

Very lovely and technical African guitar and vocal melodies gone space rock! It's soothing stuff to listen to. If Habib Koite went electric, it would sound something like this. But it isn't necessarily the most innovative thing despite its interesting meshing of genres.

Hurray for the Riff Raff - LIFE ON EARTH
59

The first few songs on this thing sound very samey and monotonous to my ears. The never-ending wall of synths feel like yet another attempt by a modern artist to recapture a musical trend decades in the past without any new twists really being thrown in to keep the listener on their toes. If Lana Del Rey fronted an '80s tribute band, I could imagine that sounding something like these tracks. If that gets your goat, then god bless and go forward.

The middle tracks are undoubtedly the most ... read more

P.O.D. - The Fundamental Elements of Southtown
50

"With the power Jah has given I," I know better than to waste my precious time alive listening to this record ever again.

P.O.D. - Payable on Death
50

The only good track on this boring slog of an album is the acoustic instrumental that their new guitarist singlehandedly wrote and played. It's not enough to save the whole record, but it's at least worth a listen on its own.

P.O.D. - Satellite
80

The only good P.O.D. record isn't just good. It's exceptional. With genuinely high quality production and songwriting that seriously makes me question if Sonny and crew even actually wrote any of the songs on the damn thing. In a sea of mediocrity, these weird Rasta-Christians who pose (poorly) as rock musicians managed to place an island of bangers that to this day I genuinely love listening to from front-to-back.

Matt Maeson - Who Killed Matt Maeson
20

Yeah... Not my vibe, sorry. It's got the Imagine Dragons problem where it's incredibly overproduced and has those chugging synth drums getting in the way of anything subtle in the composition having a chance to breathe.

The Head and the Heart - Living Mirage
20

This record delights 20-something party girls and middle-aged cool moms alike everywhere!

Yeat - 2 Alivë
20

There are rap albums that are iconic for their lyrics, and there are rap albums that are iconically bad for the same reason.

Beach House - Once Twice Melody
60

I guess I'm just missing something, here. It's very pleasant music, for sure, but that's really where the appeal begins and ends for me. It's the kind of music I should be very content hearing as I cross an airport terminal, ride an elevator, or stroll a boardwalk. It's nothing that jumps out at me. It's passive music rather than active music. And that's completely fine, but I can't pretend like I'm going to remember a single detail about it ten minutes after I've finished listening to it. I'm ... read more

Kim Petras - Slut Pop
20

This exists.

Pure Wrath - Hymn To The Woeful Hearts
60

Eh. It's fine. I was really hoping for something on the tier of Opeth or Altar of Plagues in terms of the atmosphere it seemed to promise. But ultimately it's just decent black metal with some neat string synths and organ. Not bad, by any means!

Mydreamfever - Rough and Beautiful Place
85

Don't let the new name fool you. This is 파란노을 [Parannoul]. And the music found here is every bit as beautiful and meaningful as the other output from this artist. However, the name is fitting, as this music will indeed carry you into a state of fever-like daze and dream, all with a peaceful smile on your face. Even from all the way in South Korea, 파란노을 [Parannoul] brings me home.

Mattia Olgiati - Landscapes
40

His compositions aren't the problem. It's his execution. Using plug-ins and virtual instruments that sound so cheap, it causes what talent he does have to become buried behind a wall of sound monotony.

Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee - Bamanan
88

Rokia Koné blesses us with her ethereal singing overtop of the soaring psychedelic soundscapes provided by Jacknife Lee and company, bringing together a truly beautiful marriage of contemporary and traditional Malian music that soothes the soul.

IVE - ELEVEN
80

A promising start for this new K-Pop supergroup!

alt-J - The Dream
40

Yikes. This ain't it, guys. This ain't it.

Black Dresses - Forget Your Own Face
85

Call me crazy, but I think Black Dresses' music has gotten even better since they broke up.

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