THEY DON'T CALL THESE GUYS THE "COSMIC COWBOYS" FOR NOTHING

It hurts, it just always hurts to listen to what these guys have got on their minds. Similar stories from them always but the sentiments are immortal; they are everlasting in me. "The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1" at its core is destiny. It becomes so existential to the point where you really start asking yourself the "what if...?" questions, what it takes to reach something so far away, what you truly ... read more

Adele's albums are a gateway into all that she experiences and learns from her own set stages of her life. They feel like lessons and I never feel more human than when I listen to her story, especially here with this album. She truly puts every ounce of heartbreak, shame, longing, self-doubt, introspection, reassurance, and acceptance into her words and I cannot believe just how much I feel these pull me down when I hear her voice bouncing between the walls in the abyss that is my very own ... read more

This is the first full-length Lorde album that I’ve been present for the release. Obviously, I have my fair share of her music in my playlist, but it was nice to finally be aware of her enough to want to listen to her music. This is the first time that I’ve really noticed just how interesting her sound is. Everything has this toy box sound submerged in a murky lake of darkness until it hits the floor and continues digging deeper. And of course she has this raw vocal that is really ... read more

“Lion and the Cobra” is an album that really shows the interconnection of sacrifice, desire, and most of all, obsession. Those elements create something deadly that sprouts from the battle within oneself. However, I reckon that it’s one of the most vulnerable and stunning actions when one is or dare I say allows themselves to be consumed by the something or someone. We’re all naturally overcome by things, I’ve yet to meet a person who isn’t. However, that ... read more

Like spoken poetry in the form of a gust of wind that can sweep one off their feet and glide them over the most unreal landscape. It’s impossible for what Gregory says to go unheard. However, at the same time, I’ve never thought more about what a man is trying to say. I understand him and I don’t. I’m glad that there’s that duality because that’s the point at which I allow him to reel me in closer at the attempt at being encased in everything that’s ... read more

I listen to a pretty hefty amount of city pop, I know the ins and outs of almost every aspect of it: the key signatures, the instruments, the cultural influence, the origins, the chord progressions, and most of all the thematic elements and emotion. Japanese is not in my library of languages yet, so I get a foggy idea of what she sings about on this album. Her satin voice combined with the idle and elegant instrumentation paint a blurry picture of what I suspect is the communication of ... read more

I never saw the full tracklist, so for some reason, I got disoriented and thought that this project was going to be a lot longer, but I forgot that it was pinkpantheress and “Illegal” was playing again in practically five minutes. Funny. Regardless, she does a lot with these twenty minutes. I never wanted it to end. The instrumentation does get a bit repetitive; I think it’d be cool to see her experiment a bit more.

1. “Tonight”
2. “Illegal”
3. ... read more

I’m glad that Addison was able to bring a refreshing sound to the world of modern pop music. It sucks that I’m not playing this through an iPod. I was missing this type of slow, mellow, but also lively and electric pop sound that she has. This whole album is encased by her breathy and causal vocals that release words brilliantly expressing her unapologetic authenticity. She’s made quite a turnaround in the modern world and her public “past” gives her such a unique ... read more

I love MARINA, and despite what I’m about to say, she’s still cunt(issimo). The expectations for this album were high, extremely high. I was very excited. Typically, if I know an artist is intending on releasing an album, I won’t listen to any of their singles until the full release. I heard the same few seconds of “CUNTISSIMO” during rollout as I really couldn’t escape it and that’s from where my high anticipation for this project derived and even that ... read more

Another recommendation from the Johnster. Before today, the only song that I’ve heard from this was you’d never guess it… “Never Tear Us Apart,” so my high expectations for this album came from my love of that one song. This album takes me for quite the journey. I wasn’t initially loving this album, but the more I play it, the more the cohesion reels me in. I could start the album and feel the rhythm play inside of me all the way until the end. Some parts ... read more

I don’t know what I expected going into this album but my goodness, was it worth the listen. What a powerful masterpiece of exploration. Miley’s voice throughout this entire record feels so commanding and heavenly. I’m not familiar with the feeling that this gives me. She’s a voice from above that places me on a never-ending ride that spins me around in a room with walls laced with ecstasy.

1. “Reborn”
2. “Golden Burning Sun”
3. “Easy ... read more

Album XV: “Long Lost” (2021) - Lord Huron
What now?

“Long Lost” is the final piece of this letter, and it’s the first to leave me lost for words of self-expression as I sit in silence with an empty mind for minutes while “Time’s Blur” plays on—I reckon that’s exactly the purpose of the album’s closing.

This body of work is perfectly crafted; all it ever does is make me feel. I cycle between numerous feelings, and ultimately, ... read more

Album II: “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” (1990) - Sinéad O’Connor
Why do we feel undeserving of the things we’re the ones to push away?

What touches Sinéad’s heart here somehow gracefully unravels itself and finds its way to mine. Life is filled with such ugly things, but it’s through those things, coupled with experience, that we see the birth of empathy, understanding, love, and acceptance. It always feels unreal to look back at ... read more

1. “I Got Better”
2. “Nothin’ Left”
3. “Genesis”
4. “Smile”
5. “The Dealer”

I WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS AGAIN

This is a dream, it's indescribable how this makes me feel. The instrumentation is so childlike and wondrous, her words and vocals are full of intent and declaration. I'd protect this album with my life. This is like the Adventure Time soundtrack in another dimension.

1. "It's Not up to You"
2. "Pagan Poetry"
3. "Harm of Will"
4. "Hidden Place"
5. "Undo"

SO GLAD THAT I LISTENED TO THIS!

What a thrill to listen to. She's just having fun and I love it. Quite a few of the instrumentals can be very static, but that is in no way a bad thing because her flow and personality that she unleashes through it is what takes the dance floor.

1. "DEATH ROLL"
2. "BEVERLY HILLS"
3. "NISSAN ALTIMA"
4. "BOOM BAP"
5. "DENIAL IS A RIVER"

I had listened to "Prada," "Rakata," and "Luna Llena" prior to listening to this album as a whole. There's a lot more danceability here when it comes to the technical side of music production with the evident tempos specifically. It puts me in a trance. I'm on a ride, one of which I never want to exit.

1. "Born Yesterday"
2. "Tiro"
3. "Luna Llena"
4. "Prada"
5. "Confianza"

FINALLY LISTENING TO ARCA FULLY!

I loved so many of these tracks. Arca has been on my ‘Listen To’ list for a while now and I’m so ecstatic that I’ve finally experienced one of her works. She’s the definition of a rule-breaker; she destroys and bends the systems of what artistic expression in music is said to be to create something that I’d barely classify as music and more as a sonic translation of her mind. I know for a fact that she never fails to surprise ... read more

Beautifully written with the inspiration of longing, but just doesn't keep my attention, Mr. Wonderful.

CRISTOBAL TAPIA DE VEER, I LOVE YOU

I've seen a few process videos of his works on the scores and it only makes me appreciate him more. To create sounds so magnificent, so haunting, so addictive. I cannot get enough of this and the sheer artistry backing it. It's hypnotically uncomfortable in the way in which it's choreographed.

1. "Hollowed Out"
2. "Smilers"
3. "A Woman Who Keeps Her Word"
4. "Smile End Credits Bonus"
5. "Inside ... read more