I think I’m finally starting to enjoy Horse Lords.
Its structure is so strictly linear that it demands a lot of patience, but there’s just so much happening that it becomes easy to slip into its constantly shifting madness. Minimalistic shifts that eventually evolve the whole piece, hardly if ever making any sudden stops or transitions felt. You just follow the rhythms from danceable to heady psychedelia. I think listening to Karma by Pharaoh Sanders & Discipline by King ... read more
I actually started the Origami Angel project a week ago and it took me a minute to get used to the dry mix & the skate punk vocals. But after getting through a couple songs I gotta say this thing is such a breezy listen. Like it’s kind of insane how they never let the energy drop off from song to song while blending some low key moments in there so the whole thing doesn’t just sound the same. I think this thing could really grow on me over time, there’s just a couple ... read more
Wreath: Production and mixing immediately took me back, the snare is so wooden and flat and for some reason it’s also mixed so much higher than the guitars. But what makes this decision all the more bizarre is how the guitars are recorded & stitched together to create this wall of noise, battering you down into the dirt. But with the snare placed so much closer to your ear it really throws out that feeling from clicking with you. It’s confusing as the sonic ideas here almost ... read more
I should be a lot more into this but for whatever reason I can’t help but keep a considerable distance between this album and myself. It might have something to do with the thin, bright, kinda harsh production that feels like a layover of their previous work and just a staple of the times. It’s executed a lot better here then on their previous efforts, but it still keeps some of this awesome music from really clicking with me. Maybe overtime this issue won’t feel as all ... read more
I was never particularly huge on the Alpha/Omega series, partially because it diverges a bit from their typical format of album release. Stacking diverse songs that all fit under the periphery scope of sounds. The Alpha/Omega series on the other hand provides briefer cuts and for someone who’s so used to their traditional structure, means that parts of these two records fall a bit flat. But upon revisiting them I can get down with how they’re used to built a musical narrative ... read more
Absolute bopfest, Charli has reached her 30's and finds herself at a crossroads. Seeing friends entering motherhood have caused her to consider what she wants out of her life, feeling the pull of club music has pushed her towards new sonic heights & as she's entered her 30's Charli has decided to come out and just throw herself onto a record, insecurities & pride galore. This record is truly the most Charli XCX thing to exist and yet it still feels totally fresh and vibrant, how on ... read more
A great entry and exist point with everything in the middle being just serviceable enough to enjoy one full listen.
Clancy sounds like a series of bite-size musical vignettes. Aside from the opening track everything else on here ranges from bad to decent, but it’s mostly forgettable .
As a whole Clancy never really pieces together a consistent mood or flow across each track either. but it doesn’t feel like it’s by design, which really starts to make me disengage from what I’m listening too. Sadly they all couldn’t be as punchy and fun as overcompensate which by all metrics is ... read more
Some neat melodic ideas and wildly inspirational aspects that never added up into anything more than a bloated & underwhelming experience for me.
For whatever faults this album has, I’m glad to say that what we have here is not only a step up from her last album, but that there is still more than enough good to take away from a record that tests the artistic limitations of its artist.
The production exudes this cool blue sensuality that feels so properly keyed into Billie’s sadder and softer moments as much as it does the more vibrant and mature beats. It is far and away the one thing that is consistently great about this ... read more
Knocked Loose have finally outgrown the bloated cliches which used to dominate their songwriting. With their last EP lighting the torch for a sound that would seem to unify even the most degenerate breakdown fanatics with metalheads that had begun to outgrow the sterility of modern mainstream metal music. On “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To” the boys utilize the slow pummeling riffs of hardcore, grinding metalcore energy & the cliche riffs and breakdowns and ... read more
I'm so sorry I ever doubted you.
Kamasi Washington comes back with the desire to light one hell of a fire under your ass. I can't get over what an incredible fusion record this is and how many ways Kamasi found to unite so many pieces of jazz all under one umbrella without sacrificing an ounce of tonal consistency or the energy of the record. Nothing overstays its welcome and there's so many loving moments that relish in absolute serenity and others that dominate your ears with ... read more
When it comes to reviewing instrumental albums, I can't lie and say that it's not something that I don't ever struggle with given my lack of knowledge of theory and how music itself is made or even how it works. But today something magical happened.
I sat down and relistened to this record in full for the first time in a few years and it all finally clicked. Not the album, no I've loved this thing for years and years at this point and yet despite that undying affection, something always felt ... read more
Julia Holter you have a new fan cause holy shit that was something else?! Easily the best production of the year so far and I hardly see anything beating this out. Its atmosphere is so pronounced and leaves so much room for all of the other elements of minimalist jazz to embellish these big, bold art pop synth sounds that just reverberate off of your ears. Julia's vocals are just blissful for lack of any better analysis, the atmosphere is so well mixed and utilized with various pieces ... read more
The Smile evolves the direction Radiohead took with a Moon Shaped Pool by amplifying those glacial textures for a uniquely juxtaposed atmosphere between jagged chills and echos of a defeated longing. Its topsy turvey landscapes nevertheless harmonize under a ray of color. Whether you're talking about the samba guitar of the title track or the layers of thick, optimistic cellos on "I Quit"
The Smile has adopted a character all to themselves.
Switching from a band obsessed with the ... read more
Musically sterile & narratively performative.
Taylor finds herself in the perplexing position where she has chosen the most over the top and pretentious manner of marketing for an album that features next to nothing worth listening too. The bored & unfinished musings of the worlds biggest star......how sad.
Man both this and her last record have left little to no impact on me, I can barely muster a shrug for just about any of the material on here😕
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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
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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
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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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