So we get two of DG's best and the rest is some of their worst. A basic but true opinion
Metalcore bands are way to predictable. First couple of tracks are well composed & very fun to listen to. Every catchy line and headbangable riff you've come to expect from these guys. But their song writing is just not compelling enough to last 15 tracks. Most of it just blends together,
Favorite Tracks: Dead Butterfly, Black Lungs, Discourse is Dead,
Least Favorite tracks: Flight Without Feathers,
For as dense & punchy as this is, it does less to go outside of its industrial metal roots.
I felt like every track on here was giving me something different that I love about Swans. I Am The Sun with its start & stop structure, She Lives features these heavy & encompassing guitar chords, that accompanies one of their creepiest ballads. Celebrity Lifestyle dishes up a tasty swaying groove with what is probably the catchiest chorus on the record. While songs like Blood Promise, Mothers Milk & Warm feature some of Michael Gira & Jarboes most soothing vocal performances. ... read more
Taking the bedroom R&B elements seen on his previous album up to the forefront. Moody, but it's not without JPEGS personal lyrical touch. I can't wait to see where this next evolution takes us.
Favorite Tracks: FIX URSELF!, THIS ONES FOR US!, FEED HER!, PANIC ROOM!
Least Favorite: LAST DANCE
Going from the post 2011 Swans to this induces some breakneck whiplash
What we get here is the musical equivalent of beating your boss to a bloody pulp in a back ally. There's no jumpy gloss or enticing aesthetic. The production is as raw and uncompromised as you can get. Matching along with the bare knuckle brawl of heavy instrumentation. Michael Gira sounds more tired & angry than ever before. Massive props to drumming on display. Unique fills that move chaotically but hit with such ... read more
I like how they're trying something different with this release. However with the exception of the track "The Year Nothing and Everything Happened" & "Keep Fighting the Good Fight". Every ambient interlude from the previous record stands out more than the rest of these tracks. This was a fun little adventure, that if nothing else. Does show they have the capability to right some beautiful ambient pieces on occasion. But as a whole, this record is not able to stand up on ... read more
A splash of color that envelopes you in layers of an eclipse soaked bliss....
JPEGMAFIA bounces back from Veteran, one of 2018’s most confrontational & triumphant records with a total overhaul of its sound palette and mode of engagement. Taking his stream of consciousness style of subject matter and song choice & infuses it into the atmosphere & general sound of the record like never before. This symbiotic relationship guides the flow of the project into something more than a spastic series of stops that Veteran contained. AMHAC on the other hand guides ... read more
Filling an endless void. Is the only phrase that comes to mind, after finishing this. Wildlife is one of the best and by far most raw post hardcore albums I've ever listened to. The obvious standout is vocalist Jordan Dreyer animalistic vocals spewing out heart wrenching story after story. However the degree to which the rest of the band compliments each of these tracks is truly inspired. Each song has this distinct personality. Harder Harmonies serving as a blistering post hardcore cut, driven ... read more
I've listened to this album 3 times now, and I'm still not sure if this the rating it deserves
Kid A is filled with these sublime textures. That sit in a very bizarre way. it's not what I expected to get out of a Radiohead album. But wow I loved the creeping ambience here. If Ok Computer is a dystopian melancholy, than Kid A is existential depression.
Favorite Tracks: Everything In its Right Place, The National Anthem, Kid A, Motion Picture Soundtrack, Morning Bell, Idioteque, In Limbo, ... read more
Its hard to find the qualities in this album in any modern indie rock album. From the overblown distortion, to the unexpected instrumentation. The song writing chops displayed on this release are just astonishing. The Fool in particular may be one of the best transitionary pieces. With its anthemic horns and stomping rhythm. It's the perfect curveball to thrown in after The Two Headed Boy's serenading close. The album just flows by without a second notice. It paints a lush picture filled with ... read more
Started this album last year, today we settled the score. On this 3 hour odyssey of jazz influence. This isn’t an album you can just throw on whenever. I’ll listen to pieces from this daily, but when you look at the whole thing in context to the record. It’s astounding how much Kamasi was able to fit onto one project. Considering the variety of music displayed. And have it all work as one cohesive sonic picture. Just beautiful...
Change of the Guard: 8.4/10
Askim: ... read more
Opeth's most complete album
Track Ranking
Ghost of Perdition: 10/10
Baying of Hounds: 8.6/10
Beneath the Mire: 9.5/10
Atonement: 7.9/10
Reverie/Harlequin Forest: 9.6/10
Hours of Wealth: 9/10
The Grand Conjuration: 9.4/10
Isolation Years: 9.2/10
Second listen after over a year.
Yeah the praise for this album is more than deserved. From a composition standpoint its flawless, for a progressive metal album of this nature. Everything is paced so well & written so tightly. There is such a refreshing breath of variety & emotion packed into the musical side of this thing. Taking pieces of black metal, folk metal, acoustic sections and classical music. All of it wrapped around the veil of progressive metal. Pieces such as "Forget ... read more
Not as great on a relisten, but my god are they the most underrated math rock band
Create an account to rate and review albums.
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. "
Advertisement