A wonderfully misanthropic romp through the aggressive dirges of melancholic regret. I love the wicked, cryptic setting that Waits is able to conjure through his junkyard blues, it surges this tight constraint of percussive warbles, stomps & slides with a primal intimacy that brings the emotion into clear view. There’s a dull mourning, eroded over decades, whose pain still stings with a polished, flimsy edge.
At first glance, I felt pretty disappointed by this cover...I wondered if the decision to put the cleanliness of the studio ruined the potential for an exhausted and more raw rendition, if they could've been more exploratory with the original material...questions like these plagued my mind, but after some time I've given it some additional listens and honestly, I'm a bit addicted to this song.
Xiu Xiu is not only known as being an INTENSE and WEIRD band, but Jamie not only ... read more
What we know, cut into the skin, & never forget. The memory quiet's, dictating what come's next. The moment is everything, every single cell expresses its truth in a cold, black boil...to be seen is a privilege for all involved, except the artist.
Upon Jamie Stewart’s recommendation I checked out this album and was met with what a neat experimental project that ultimately did a good job conveying ideas I had run across before, albeit in his own way.
So why the change of heart? Well this thing has stuck with me, which is no good reason to boost a score/opinion up so high. But as I’ve revisited it I’ve discovered how truthful Scott Walker was when he spoke of his album Tilt. He didn’t feel like he was doing ... read more
Good god, I must admit that Periphery have long been a not so guilty pleasure of mine that has hung on to my rotation since my high school years, for both good & nostalgic reasons. Recent albums of theirs have clawed closer to a generic fusion of the pop djentcore that has overtaken the genre, but they always retained their own fun spin that separated themselves from the cliche markers that make that movement completely intolerable & while Pale White Dot doesn't succumb to the ... read more
DIE & CRY LATER
“To forget uncontrollably embraces the duality of human frailty. It is a rebirth in blanked out renewal but it also drowns and mutilates our attempt to hold on to what is dear.”
Unintentional as it could be, FORGET grabs life’s absurdities by the balls and refuses to cave into its practical demands. Working through the plurality of questions doing such brings forth. While embracing the feeling of the moment, as a necessity to address and survive the ... read more
The vast majority is my ideal dream pop album. Succulent & slightly stark, dreamy regrets amidst disparate facts. Creating a logical, minimal poetry, comprised of the evocatively selective nature of memory. Simultaneously straightforward & distorted. Bursting with feeling of an uncertain conclusion, despite the path it leads you down. Beautiful!!
Tilt is a perfect album title. A simple objective statement spelling out an odd & intriguing separation from what came before, one that's still linked to the past, even if you don't immediately recognize it...
Scott Walkers long awaited return see's his music (mostly) retain familiar musical foundations along the lines of song structure, while everything else becomes tilted to a darker abstraction. A silent void surrounds every sound, the deep vibrations of each instrument ... read more
Pharoahs flow state is unlike anything I’ve ever heard. A stunning synthesis of heightened emotions that range from terrifyingly dark, joyously danceable, rigidly rhythmic, beautifully euphoric. The primal nature of man’s emotions aren’t based in bloodlust & irrationality, they are us at our most vulnerable, at it’s best, we are shown transcendence through total clarity of the self, where the expression of lived experience is communicated in all of its thorny ... read more
This is a TEXTBOOK example of utilizing the medium of music to its fullest potential. There’s no story, no thematic ideas. It obscures what we tend to conceptualize as artistic meaning and yet…there’s a comprehensive internal logic, new areas of exploration for the band's sound & a persistent, compelling feel. The result lends you a journey of playful tension (withholding firm positive/negative connotations.) These relationships create huge peaks and valleys of ... read more
The beauty of poignant cynicism, leaving the world with an aching hurt & open hearted reflections.
The minimalistic reliance boils down the excellence of La Dispute's most essential features that make their storytelling so personal & evocative.
It saddens me to know that many will approach this as a "spoken word" project. That this project's value stems from so many listening through it with a bevy of expectations in mind that stem from the band's style, the anticipation of post hardcore breaks, the carnal desire for "their style." Instead of ... read more
Totally in love with how English is able to capture such vacant, windy & open spaces that feel so unassuming, calming & eerie. The piano editions are a nice optimistic flourish when they appear though they do feel a bit too plain & didactic emotionally, which I know is part of the purpose they serve, so it may just boil down to the arrangement being a bit lackluster in the backhalf more so than the first. Regardless, this is a stupefying record that I think I’ll only love more ... read more
Astoundingly seamless, I didn't even realize there were two separate quartet's (one per each channel) until a cursory google search halfway through. The possibility that this was just the first fully "free" jazz album that inspired his peers for years to come could've so easily been the case and still be revered for its historical impact. But my god did Coleman ever outdo himself while still maintaining some semblance of continuity in his typical fashion while still ... read more
A thrilling journey through the stylings of free jazz, filled with pathos & bizarre estrangement!
Lovingly intimate, spirited & human in a more docile form of primality.
A walk-through grief's anhedonia. Loss begets a pain that lights up your internal world as much as it flattens you out. Paralyzing your joints & nerves in the aftershock of piercing a hole in your heart, visible only through your glassy eyes. That's the contrast I love between Beck's voice & the music. A smokey beauty that's been hollowed out, still biting his lips with the end of every sentence. The color's that bleed through with sparse & specific ... read more
Exactly what I was looking for! This is the perfect embodiment of the vial, rustic underbelly of masculinity that this era of Swans was developing. The loose droning ambience of an industrial hellscape mixed with a deluded Michael at the center. Completely stripped of his spirit, seeking meaning from the ripping of his flesh & the indignity of his person amidst a futile existence. The violence is so palpable & effective with the screeching & thunderous banging's of guitar and ... read more
Seems like this would be the proper record to finally win me over with technical death metal. A seamless experience of horny ravenous sludge!
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Recent Review Comments
On literallyMoss's review of Xiu Xiu - Ignore Grief
"A lot of people are not into experimental experiences, hence a lot of complaints about this not having "the other aspects of Xiu Xiu that makes their music memorable" without further elaboration, a comment like this says more about their taste's than it is a critique of the music"
On 🪓lexa ☮️💖☯️🤝🇵🇸's review of Xiu Xiu - Knife Play
"Homunculus should be genuinely painful physically and emotionally to listen too. It’s its best quality"
On Archerycraft18's review of John Coltrane - Live in Japan
"Thank you for providing an in-depth review, lovely stuff"
On Invent Animate - The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was
"@steffyy thank you for the lovely feedback, glad it helped your experience!"
On CheerAxConisuer's review of King Crimson - Islands
"He was Fripped out of his mind on "Sailors Tale""
On Spamman's review of The Necks - Disquiet
""it's a track that is a journey, a story."
In a sense The Neck's don't make stories within their music. They create static, explorative sonic environments built on repetitions & time manipulation, extensive run times help create the hypnotic effect, creating a mode of stasis where they can add new elements or change the specific details of these repetitions in order to alter the texture of the piece.
What may seem like the exact same thing really isn't at all due to how they play around with microtones, pacing & then adding and subtracting pieces from the overall construct. I agree with your assessment on "Causeway" but it's strange to me that you don't see how elements are weaving in and out of the first two tracks."
On landminemower's review of The Necks - Disquiet
"It wouldn't be a 10/10 if it was shorter. The length is integral to the experience of lulling you beyond considering time."
On HomeSession3's review of Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
"I can only wish you & your family the best, an honest beautiful tribute that means a lot to me as I read it. Thank you for having the strength to post this as you go through this incredibly difficult time"
On s3sh's review of Xiu Xiu - Ignore Grief
"Come on man, I can understand where this perspective comes from, but it's sad to see people that wouldn't try to understand the art for what it is than for what their preconceptions of art would dictate for them to believe. Abstract art is art for a reason and its worth exploring why this album is the way it is or at least being able to formulate substantial criticisms for others to contend with instead of offering a statement so broad and dismissive that it begs to be replied too. Just sort of expressing some views the review conjured and not trying to make you feel worthless or express any kind of personal hatred :)"
On Echoesanywhere's review of Andrew Hill - Compulsion
"This review is a great example of reviewing abstract/difficult works of art. Following the music through its patterns (emotional, structural, musical) it reveals the core of what the art is and it doesn't have to be so impossible to define or require knowledge on music theory. The real key I've found is to just really tune yourself into the sound and what it's doing between all the musicians. It will speak to you."
On HomeSession3's review of The Mountain Goats - Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
"Sounds really interesting! What mountain goats records would you recommend?"
On DAVECHER's review of Stan Getz & João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto
"I wish the bland recommended jazz had the same degree of warmth in the production & sensory depth in each instrument. Getz sax work is especially stupendous, take O’Grande Amour where he spends most of his time in hushed breath yet the whole thing is so playfully emotional. Making that first and final push at the end so impactful."
On HomeSession3's review of Geese - Getting Killed
"A lyrically great review that distills what makes this album unique! Loved reading it :)"
On cappyk's review of La Dispute - No One Was Driving the Car
"Try understanding what they're going for instead of going expecting a good rock album lol"
On Miles Davis - E. S. P.
"@HomeSession3 Sure you can recommend them to me or comment them on my page, I'd love some as I've really gotten into the genre this year :)"
On HomeSession3's review of Imperial Triumphant - Goldstar
"I love this review and it's a style that I try to grasp when constricting certain reviews of mine, but rarely capture it as well as you do here. Less a checklist of good and bad qualities and instead you paint a picture of the records character and quality from within. Lovely stuff and my favorite review I've read this year."
On Doofy's review of toe - the book about my idle plot on a vague anxiety
"You should check out their next release For Long Tomorrow, I feel like that one may resonate a bit more."
On H1DD3N_1N_TH3_ST4T1C's review of Hail the Sun - Divine Inner Tension
"Haven't listened to this one yet, but you would really enjoy their output if this one works for you. I'd listen in this order: Secret Wars, Wake, New Age Filth & Mental Knife after that is pretty open to what you're interested in."
On jaredpeelstich's review of Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
"not on my watch
no rating submitted, review gives a 10/10"
On chaz's review of Don Caballero - American Don
"they're a "multiple relisten's" kind of band for sure"
On tyler's review of Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
"I’ve only listened to the tracks A & B, but I agree with what you’ve said so far. I started getting into jazz and i think you should check out “Let My Children Hear Music” which is also by Mingus. It’s my favorite of his that’s I’ve heard so far, it blends classical music & avant- grade jazz, love to know your thoughts."
On CLJesse's review of Glassjaw - Worship and Tribute
"Any update on that post hardcore flow chart??"
On CLJesse's review of foxtails - fawn
"Great find to start off the year, very much agree with everything you've said here"
On mj04's review of Code Orange - Underneath
"Idk man, I really love the vocals. Sound very intense and very much something of their own. "
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