this album is so densely lyrical. every song has so many layers to peel apart, both thematically and instrumentally. Adrianne's songwriting only continues to improve. tracks like "Vampire Empire" and "Real House" are profoundly heartbreaking; "Free Treasure" and "Sadness as a Gift" profess a genuine longing for feeling, ANY feeling; "Ruined" just says it all. all backed by fragile strings, wavering piano, and soaring (yet intimate) vocals from ... read more
definitely a marked improvement over their first record--the lyricism is sharp, the production is cleaner (which doesn't always work in their favor), and the instrumentation is much tighter. still lots of room to grow though, especially in the vocals. the mumbly style of singing in most of these tracks doesn't really do it for me. I miss some of the crunch of their first album.
favorites: motions; coelacanth; rare animal; abyss angel; slip under the door; whalefall; the CIA; commatose; ... read more
very much a post-pandemic album. full of sweeping rumination on the state of the world and our relationships to each other. love the way she layers vocals on top of vocals to create these huge, striking ballads. some of the most gorgeous art pop I've heard in a while.
favorites: The Worst is Done; It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody; God Turn Me Into a Flower; Twin Flame; Hearts Aglow; Grapevine; Children of the Empire
least favorite: In Holy Flux
did u guys hear me? I said they call themselves Cheekface because their lyrics are so cheeky! do u need me to explain it? please laugh.
favorites: Life in a Bag; The Fringe; There Were Changes in the Hardcore Scene; Popular 2
least favorite: Trophy Hunting at the Zoo
Big Thief's debut shows a real tact for songwriting. the lyricism is striking right out of the gate--Real Love especially is a standout track with intense poetry matched with screaming guitars. the 2023 remaster takes the production to a new level, but unfortunately can't save some tracks from feeling samey.
favorites: Real Love; Lorraine; Masterpiece; Paul; Humans; Parallels
least favorite: Vegas
a solid, if somewhat unexciting project from Benny here. excellent production and lots of solid hooks, but not a ton of evolution over either Plugs EP.
favorites: Big Dog; One Foot In; Everybody Can't Go; Buffalo Kitchen Club; Back Again; BRON
least favorite: Pillow Talk & Slander
genuinely stunning. extremely cohesive record--even through it's seemingly disparate genre-bending tones--that only barely overstays its welcome.
favorites: Old Money Bitch; Cops and robbers; Uncanny long arms; Shoot to kill, kill your darlings; Locals (Girls like us)
least favorite: Johnny johnny johnny
least mid Fall Out Boy record
favorites: Love From the Other Side; The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years); Heaven, Iowa; Heartbreak Feels So Good
least favorite: So Good Right Now
they call themselves Cheekface bc their lyrics are so damn cheeky
favorites: I Feel So Weird!; We Need a Bigger Dumpster; You Always Want to Bomb the Middle East; Featured Singer
least favorite: Friends
it's me, I'm the girl with fish. really fun and noisy record. great vocals and excellent guitar work. drags just a tiny bit in the middle, but can't complain too much about that when the whole thing's less than a half hour.
favorites: Pocket; Steamroller; Freak; Heavy Water; Healing; Paces
least favorite: Station
gorgeous. swept me off my feet, treated me to a nice dinner, and respectfully walked me home. beautiful string arrangements, striking piano playing, and the skittery percussion just ties it all together.
favorites: Spirit 2.0; Suspended; Stereo Colour Cloud (Shaman's Dream); What If You Hypnotise Me?; Can't Go Back; Evidence
least favorite: Inclination Compass (Tenderness)
pretty striking stuff here. really fun grooves and instrumentation on most cuts. I love how much dynamic range there is too--tracks often build and release very satisfyingly. gets slightly samey in the final third, but damn what a closer. definitely revisiting this group soon.
favorites: Siphon Song; Swing (In a Dream); If You Had Seen the Bulls Swimming...; Green Light; Undergrowth
least favorite: After the Flash
finally, an album for white people
favorites: Cracker Island; Baby Queen; Tormenta; Silent Running
least favorite: Oil
new wave pop bliss. such a pleasant and invigorating listen.
favorites: Slippery People; Burning Down the House; This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody); Girlfriend is Better; Moon Rocks
least favorite: Pull Up the Roots
the first half of this record has some of their best material since Speaking in Tongues. unfortunately the back half has The Facts of Life. it's a real shame the latin pop percussion and horns can't save it. at least the closer is good.
favorites: (Nothing But) Flowers; Blind; Cool Water; Mr. Jones
least favorite: The Facts of Life
scientists will be studying the way they fell off for centuries
favorites: And She Was; Television Man; Walk it Down; Road to Nowhere
least favorite: Perfect World
very fun, but not as fun as I was expecting (in both a good and bad way)
favorites: Fade Away; Love Goes On; Never Again; Concrete Angel
least favorite: Shy
how did they make an album almost as heartbreaking as the last one I didn't think it was possible
favorites: Laughing Song; Turbines/Pigs; Up Song; I Won't Always Love You
least favorite: The Wrong Trousers
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