Best of 2021
Recent Ratings
Recent Reviews
Perhaps the greatest third stream project since Sketches of Spain.
In pure contrast with most conventional jazz releases, Promises abides by the kingdom of minimalist aphaeresis, not that of addition. Silence, as an organic element of the artistic edifice, is not defined in ontological nothingness, but instead forms a solid, restless entity which combats the metallic screams of Pharoah, as well as the eerie flourishes of Sam Shepherd. It would be of a great shame to ignore this internal ... read more
In pure contrast with most conventional jazz releases, Promises abides by the kingdom of minimalist aphaeresis, not that of addition. Silence, as an organic element of the artistic edifice, is not defined in ontological nothingness, but instead forms a solid, restless entity which combats the metallic screams of Pharoah, as well as the eerie flourishes of Sam Shepherd. It would be of a great shame to ignore this internal ... read more
We Are is a unique album, a cosmopolitan 21st century cocktail fusing jazz, gospel, hip-hop, funk and soul in a way that astounds in its originality.
The reason I enjoy this kind of records is that they help people expand their taste in music and discover different styles. Whether cosmopolitanism as an aesthetic approach is graceful for the art is, of course, still debatable (genre-bending fetishization seems to be unavoidable these days), but, in the end, We Are is among the albums that help ... read more
The reason I enjoy this kind of records is that they help people expand their taste in music and discover different styles. Whether cosmopolitanism as an aesthetic approach is graceful for the art is, of course, still debatable (genre-bending fetishization seems to be unavoidable these days), but, in the end, We Are is among the albums that help ... read more
A stomping debut by Pupil Slicer.
Technical without being formalistic, aggressive without being repetitive, dirty without being muddy. The band builds on the legacy of obvious influences like DEP, but its approach is even more towards the hardcore side, especially regarding the vocal spectrum. And Mirrors avoids the pitfall of monotony that tarnishes albums of this kind: there are many brutal moments, yes, like punishing breakdowns or glitchy, hyper-speed guitar screeches, but Pupil Slicer ... read more
Technical without being formalistic, aggressive without being repetitive, dirty without being muddy. The band builds on the legacy of obvious influences like DEP, but its approach is even more towards the hardcore side, especially regarding the vocal spectrum. And Mirrors avoids the pitfall of monotony that tarnishes albums of this kind: there are many brutal moments, yes, like punishing breakdowns or glitchy, hyper-speed guitar screeches, but Pupil Slicer ... read more
In an age where most 90s alternative rock sounds dated af, Automatic for the People is the rare exception, an album that becomes more and more blessed with the passage of time, a glorious, nostalgic landscape of an era long gone.
It is hard to explain what makes this album so special, but, for starters, its ambience is so striking and unique that it remains unparalleled by both its contemporaries and successors. It is extremely difficult to pair Automatic for the People with other projects. ... read more
It is hard to explain what makes this album so special, but, for starters, its ambience is so striking and unique that it remains unparalleled by both its contemporaries and successors. It is extremely difficult to pair Automatic for the People with other projects. ... read more
I want to quit my job, lock myself in my room for 3 months, and play Explorers of the Sky again.
Shoutbox
Mar 21, 2021
Just checked out the book from my local library... thanks for the recommendation.
Mar 5, 2021
Hello, hello! I'm so glad you asked! There's so much to choose from—but Derrida's "Of Grammatology" has always been a personal favorite. I'd also recommend Deleuze's "What is Philosophy?". However, both of those are long, twisting, and abstract pieces of work... If you're looking for something just as spectacular but a lot more "digestible", as it were, I'd recommend Foucault's short essay called "Nietzsche, Marx, Freud" or Roland Barthes' infamous piece "The Death of the Author". Both are <10 pages and yet cover some of the most important implications and ideas in this nebulous thing we crudely call "poststructuralism". Besides, if I'm being honest, it's the critical essay, rather than the long book form, which has always felt most appropriate to critical theory, and that attracted me to the field in the first place. Let me know what you think about any/all of these works! Would always love to talk more; and thanks again for the inquiry.
Mar 2, 2021
Thank you so much for the recommendations! I added both of these records to my crate of albums to listen to in the near future! 🔥
Mar 1, 2021
Have you listened to "Fear of a blank planet" by Porcupine Tree? It has similar vibes to the debut by BCNR expect it’s more in a bad mood than the latter. If you enjoyed BCNR’s debut, you might enjoy that one!
Mar 1, 2021
YES! Black Country, New Roads! It’s my fav of this year so far too! What a great debut!
Feb 28, 2021
Hi friend! Thanks for the follow! Let’s connect, what would you consider your favorite album of this year so far? 😁
About
Late millennial with boomer music taste.
Around the Web
Rating Distribution
100
22
90-99
695
80-89
2023
70-79
2138
60-69
759
50-59
134
40-49
30
30-39
15
20-29
6
10-19
3
0-9
2
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