'Lungs' sounds quite different from the rest of Big Black's EPs, largely due to the fact that Steve Albini was the only person involved in the creation of the EP. The drum machine sounds quite brittle and shaky, a huge contrast to the booming, breakneck drum machine sound that Big Black would later utilise. The guitar sounds sharp and shallow, and the lyrics are especially edgy on this record. Big Black were well known for their edginess - from the original cover of ... read more

When Ian Mackaye described his vision for Fugazi's music as "the Stooges with reggae", he hit the nail right on the head. That is the most perfect way to describe this record's sound. A tight rhythm section of Joe Lally's dub influenced bass work and Brendan Canty pounding the skins hold down the grooves while Guy Piccioto's soft crooning and Ian Mackeye's drill sergeant scream and urgent guitar playing round out the mix. Intelligent and well informed lyrics ... read more

This record is the Pumpkin's defining moment. It perfectly balances the woozey shoegaze that was soon to bloom into a full scene with the hard edged grunge that the SP's most popular songs encompassed. The production sounds incredible and is easily my favorite sounding Butch Vig produced record. The guitars range from fuzzy warm shoegaze to heavy grunge to quiet clean tones and all sound great. The Smashing Pumpkins being my girlfriend's favourite band adds to my enjoyment of the ... read more

This release sounds much more in debt to post punk than the no wave that would direct their career for the next several years. Drums sound tribal which would continue on to their full length debut. The whole record was recorded in standard tuning, something that to my knowledge Sonic Youth never returned to. The Burning Spear is a highlight for me. I really dig the usage of a drill during the song's intro curtesy of Lee Ranaldo. Comes recommended if you've heard everything else Sonic ... read more

Though Ambient Works I is the only other Aphex Twin project I've heard I'm fairly certain this is his most light hearted album. This was his first to be recorded using a computer which allowed for more manic compositions which weren't previously possible. The percussion on this album is insane, constantly breaking and switching and flipping you upside your head. The synths on certain songs remind me of the TomoDachi Life soundtrack for some reason. #4 is a standout track for me. ... read more

This album feels like such a breath of fresh air to me. It combines quieter minimal slow tracks with more upbeat (more so not completely hopeless) indie tracks. I really enjoy opener Let's Move to the Country with its simple arrangement and chirpy violins and stringed instruments. No Dancing centers around a low tuned guitar riff which eventually builds in the chorus to an orchestra of children and more string instruments. Held was covered by Spoon on their 2020 release Lucifer on the ... read more

This record has a mix of Rollins' spoken word poetry and full band instrumentals. I find Henry Rollins' poetry to be interesting enough though it is definitely not casual listening, not even something you could put on lightly in the background. The instrumentals are sort of samey for ms, they feel incomplete without Henry yelling over them about society or women. Overall I'd only recommend this to those venturing into Black Flag's discography.

Super interesting mesh of shoegaze, space rock revival and proto nu metal. The first three tracks are perfect back to back and have me both swaying with the wallowy spaced out guitar tones and banging my head to the drop d riffage. Every song on the record is quite good though the album slows down later into its run time. Tracks like the Pod and Stars sound a lot like proto nu metal. My personal favorite track is Little Dipper.

Cherubs combine grunge, post hardcore and noise rock in a very unique way. Particularly on this record they take the weirdness of the Butthole Surfers, the drop D tuned chug of Unsane and the edginess of Big Black and combine then into a gloriously jagged mess. I once saw this album described as a mosh pit in a drug infested homeless shelter, which fits the music perfectly. This album is as grimy and sludgy as the bathroom tiles on its cover. Highlights include Blackhouse, the title track, ... read more

"Have you guys ever listened to REM"

Forever Since Breakfast was the first ever GBV release and also the first I heard from them. I'd only heard REM's Monster at that point so I didn't draw any connection to their earlier jangly post punk. But by God is this influenced by REM. The production, the jangly guitars, even the vocals and lyrics to an extent are very reminiscent of REM. Though this EP does features some quite good songs. Land of Danger is the best song here ... read more

I enjoy the crunchy lo fi recording sound of this record. It was recorded directly from a radio show live performance in the late 80s by the Swans. There are audible technical issues towards the end of the broadcast but I find they only add to this releases charm, something of an intimate recording broadcast (as intimate as Swans can get). Only available on YouTube but still worth a listen.

For a while I prefered this record to Daydream Nation. I just couldn't get into DN after Dirty being my first exposure to SY. Now I consider Daydream Nation to be the 2nd greatest album of all time (1st will be revealed later). But Dirty is still an excellent record. A lot more accessible, yes, but nonetheless a great record. The album opens with 100%, which immediately sucker punches you in the face and gets shit going. 100% is written about Joe Cole, a Black Flag roadie and friend to the band ... read more

This was my first Current 93 record and needless to say it did what I said on the tin. The EP is one long recording of a disturbing and downright confusing poem, which ominous ambience in the back and foreground. A strange voice speaks gibberish at the beginning and throughout. I like to think that the person narrating this poem is the creature on the cover. The cover is as ominous as the music itself. The song is a mysterious journey through a dark void, a feeling of helplessness overwhelming ... read more

This album shows the band slowly evolving away from the fast and simple punk rock of the first three records (though YoA is debatable). The album's first three tracks are the ones I personally find the weakest, just shy from being generic punk tunes. The second side of this album definitely saves it though - more spacey guitars certainly hep the songs. The production here is quite flat - very reminiscent of the Stooges (Let It Slide on the group's follow up Follow Blind has a very Stooges-style ... read more

Bug is a lot like YLAOM's younger brother / sister. It's an evolution from their sophomore while still having similar structure. The songwriting is more tidier - less wah fuckery than songs like Kracked would have had (though Don't certainly fucks). Bug is J Mascis's least favorite Dinosaur Jr record, which surprises me. Like Green Mind over this? Seriously? Then again, I don't know much about the creation of the album so there could have been some tension during recording. (Editor's Note : ... read more

I came across this a while ago while searching for the nu metal band of the same name (I kinda hate their music now). It was a surprise to me - I hadn't heard anything remotely hardcore punk - I was still listening to hard rock primarily. I now know it's not hc punk, but it certainly has a lot of elements of it. Outside of the weird way I found this EP there's not much interesting to this release. The vocals on this EP sound demented. The cover art is quite strange - looks like a face inside a ... read more

A haunting and terrifying release all throughout. The album has a grimey, sludgey feel to its instrumentals, and the lyrics are pure insanity - makes sense coming from the Surfers. Sweat Loaf is a great introduction to the album, punching you in the face repeatedly with the main riff. At some points the songs quiets down only to explode once again with the main riff (a parody of Black Sabbath's Sweet Leaf). I've also heard this song was sampled by Aphex Twin though I haven't checked it out. The ... read more

Pretty meh album. I don't plan on returning to this record again. Even others bands like Drunk Tank who have had mid records have interested me enough to possibly listen to another record by them - this isn't one of them. Just samey noise tracks that were written by people who were jumping on the AmRep train in the 90s. Not one notable track on this. I've seen a RYM user say that Janitor Joe never made it big because of Nirvana. Excuse me? Nevermind is the reason a mind numbingly boring record ... read more

Honestly a really strong beginning to DJ's discography. Definitely not the best place to start, but a surprisingly strong record considering it's his very first. Has some underlooked tracks like Brainwash. The first tape in a trio of albums (each other better than the next). This record has an uncomfortable amount of references and themes of masturbation. Lots of segments of Daniel and family / friends talking, and Daniel's mother telling him she loves him. Rough recording quality but it ... read more

While not my favorite Melvins record, Bullhead is still a landmark record for sludge metal as a genre. The song Boris would inspire the name of another noisy sludgey type band Boris (I've yet to check out their discog - someday tho). It's Shoved was ultimately ripped off by Nirvana on In Utero with Milk It (they just gave the riff Jesus Lizard type lyrics and general fuckery). Cow is a great opener, one of the Melvin's better long opening / closing songs (Spread Eagle Beagle is also ... read more