I started listening to this right after listening to Parquet Courts' newest record for the fifth time and, in the most metaphorical sense of the word, I went totally flaccid.
"Died and came back twice. Now I'm Free. I don't feel pain anymore." Kid Cudi's depression and suicidal tendencies (I assume that's what he is referring to) are reduced to three sentences that end with a long drowsy and frankly disturbing "freeeeeee". And they have the audacity to call this "Ghost ... read more
I really don't remember him singing so well what the shit. Anyways, I gave Pure Comedy a score in the low 40s or mid 30s - something like that. This album, however, is a complete 180. WOW
As self-absorbed, lyrically incoherent and artistically exhausted as always, Kanye is back with a record that reeks of the same self-image issues that manifested themselves in TLOP. I Thought About Killing You is Kanye's current mental state exemplified as clearly as possible - and it should not come as a surprise, it is the exact same Kanye we see on Twitter. I find that deeply disappointing because a part of me wanted to believe that Twitter-Kanye was a pure PR stunt made to boost sales and ... read more
The surface level exploration of futuristic dystopian horror scenarios in Sex & Food is so cliché and half-baked. Multi-Love was a bombastic and groovy record full of witty lyricism, an exploration into polyamory completely devoid of pretense and hyperbolic imagery. I mean, in Sex & Food the lyrics are barely intelligible. Hopefully, this album just represents a brief detour in UMO's otherwise stellar discography. The production definitely feels more bloated and rough around the ... read more
Extremely potent mix of different music genres and influences. Have been listening to this on and off for a few years now and it still maintains its freshness.
The whole "Everything's Fine" concept is so well executed. This is by far the best hip hop record I have heard in a while.
Vessel consists of much grander arrangements that reek very little of the lazy youtube bedroom pop that defined Frankie Cosmos' two previous albums. The shorter tracks are built around powerful and emotional refrains. The longer tracks feel so much more refined and are elevated by clever songwriting. Greta Kline still has a lot of growing up to do, but I think that is a point she makes herself on the album.
The longer tracks on this album are a testament to the ability of Frankie Cosmos to ... read more
Abel is 28 years old and he still sounds like a teenager. I do not even want him to return to the days of Trilogy, I would just like to see him grow up.
This is miles ahead of Starboy in terms of production, but not even Nicolas Jaar can save this one.
Best track: Wasted Times
It breaks my heart to say this, but this is what I wish King Gizzard sounded like :((
Pointlessness is such a beautiful closing track. It builds up perfectly and crashes down into a wave of white noise. AOTY so far for sure, holy shit.
Lazy Boy encapsulates everything I want in a neo-psychedelic anthem. Wavy and floaty synths, lo-fi drawn out guitar riffs, and catchy refrains - all hauled under a veil of heavy and flustering reverb.
It's difficult to rate an album from a band that is now, many years after their prime, standing in the colossal shadows cast by their own albums. Albums that went on to define the indie-rock of the 1990s and early 2000s. Yo La Tengo making just a "good" album does not feel adequate - not when their previous albums have been built up around grand, picturesque and genre-defining arrangements that have gone on to become instantly noticeable for anyone remotely interested in indie rock. ... read more
XXXtentacion slow demise into an irrational fear of irrelevance has peaked with this album. Instructing his listeners to "open their minds" and acknowledge his versatility - whatever the fuck that means - he establishes that if we, the listeners, do not like his album then it is because we have not "opened my eyes" enough or acknowledged the musical genius that is xxxtentacion. It is ridiculous that despite a spotty and shady track record, both in terms of his music and ... read more
Back when I wrote my short review for Teens of Denial, my favorite album of 2016, I described Will Toledo as an "angsty and edgy teenager" which was doing him a complete injustice. After listening to this "remastered" version of Twin Fantasy I realized that Will Toledo's songs are not just anthems for teenagers, they are anthems for everyone.
Fantastic album.
The first track, Let's Make Out, lifts you out of sheer will power and flings you into a wall - head first - making you pass out. Just sucks that none of the other songs can manage to wake you up.
That's how I feel about this album - great first track, but the rest? Not so much.
Generally cool production, and frankly, Rich Brian has improved substantially in terms of flow compared to the first time I listened to him.
Lyrics wise, though? About as daft as all the other soundcloud rappers.
A shell of Justin Timberlake's past self. Remember when Timberlake was the one who inspired other pop artists? All that is gone and left is a melting pot of the past years' short-lived pop music fads. I mean, Filthy, Midnight Summer Jam and Sauce sound so uninspired, it makes me sad. If you're not convinced by the three first tracks, that this is an uninspired mess, then just wait for Supplies. The loss of identity that this album represents is best exemplified in the countless ad-libs and dull ... read more
The super creatively vulgar lyrics are actually pretty amusing, but that is also the only thing this album has going for it. The production is a really sluggish and flat mix of house and trap, that admittedly works well with cupkakKe's flow but takes away from the enjoyment of the album as a whole.
Some super well fleshed out tracks on here that could have just as well been on a milo project. A Terror Beyond Falling and Private Temple Hours come to mind. Generally just an album that is super easy to vibe to. milo is not innovating or experimenting a whole lot, but then again that has never been what he has done with Scallops Hotel.
You might think he loves you for your money but I know what he really loves you for it's your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
strongest intro track in a dg album ever.
Anne Bonny and This is Violence Now are also amazing.
One of the less interesting albums released by King Gizzard this year. Their reliance on specific thematic choices has become more apparent as they have chosen to go with their own "vibe" so to speak on this record. It kind of sucks since some of their albums pre-2017 were incredible without having some sort stylistic twist to them.
I hope they try to build upon their pre-2017 style more in 2018.
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Recent Review Comments
On 76fex's review of IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance.
"I can see your point regarding no subtlety - I guess it comes down to preference whether you like brazen protest music or something that is veiled under some smart symbolism. But saying the politics is conveyed in an unsophisticated way would be doing the album an injustice.
"
On 76fex's review of IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance.
""fighting for someone else's cause" lmao isn't that what like half of all protest/politically charged music does? The artist conveys the emotions (anger, feelings of injustice, helplessness due to being trapped by dogma) of those that are not able to express them themselves - those that are not able to properly fight for their own cause. People that aren't exposed to injustices to the same extent as others can still fight against it. but "omg reddit xd amirite"
"
On KIDS SEE GHOSTS - KIDS SEE GHOSTS
"yeah not a good way to describe it, I realize now after a few listens.
There is a difference between talented production and good production. I acknowledge the immense talent behind the production, but I do not agree that the album is in any way a fulfillment of that potential.
I am happy to have strangers like you to tell me I am tonedeaf, though, lmao. You definitely got me there. "
On dyelir's review of The Voidz - Virtue
"I didn't even know that lmfao. But yeah, I kinda assumed this was a before-I-review-it-witty-commentary, because I would never imagine using the word 'traditionalist' to describe this album."
On dyelir's review of The Voidz - Virtue
""C-grade" "tradionalist"
You actually listened to the album in its entirety, right? "
On exception's review of Against All Logic - 2012 - 2017
"This is a very accurate and concise description of my thoughts about this album. Stellar record, no doubt, but I completely agree, I would not have listened to it had it not been for the attention it was getting."
On annpearson's review of Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy (Face to Face)
"trollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltrollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltrollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltrollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltrolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll"
On johnlisi's review of Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror)
"It was to make space for the remastered version!!!! Check out his spotify again ;)"
On Björk - Utopia
"I am planning on writing a more in-depth review later on, but I advise you to check out the Independent's scores this year. They are contrarian for the sake of being contrarian trying to cater to audiences daft enough to read their all-around shitty newspaper. "
On SaulCLRadiohead's review of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland
"that's my exact question to your score"
On aaron's review of Milo - who told you to think??!!?!?!?!
"Also something I have been thinking about lately. On "So The Flies Dont Come", he actually like a relatively smart guy who watched a bit too much anime. Now though, he is completely off the grid, giving people flak for daring to just TALK negatively about his album. He told a guy on twitter to "shut the fuck and appreciate the beats" or something like that. I'm pretty sure he deleted it later but wtf. "
On VinylHound83's review of Alex G - Rocket
"It is sort of strange, which could explain why people find it so interesting. I agree with you, though. Pretty overrated in my opinion."
On Low Roar - Once in a Long, Long While...
"@ecorunner What is the statement of the album? Your critique is purely based on the notion that I did not "get" the statement of the album. Yeah, it is a breakup album and an attempt to move on, sure, but that is the vaguest description of an album you can give and can be applied to sooo many albums. It is a dark album, true, but purely for the sake of being dark. "
On Valeron21's review of Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
"the interlude is a 100 in itself lmao
also, how does 80 constitute an average record?"
On exception's review of Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
"Sometime as an artist art comes at u fast, and i believe he made this album like a mixtape n the process hearing the random shoutouts the album display by the dj. Thats what i think he was going for. Its supposed to b straight n your face. He made it commercial like a typical mainstream album while keeping the weirdness in ratchet in the music. He also dumb down the lyrics to put his message straight forward with the listener we he goes into his religious beliefs, and frustrations, and questions"
On Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
"I think the fact that you didnt like the heart part 4 as much as I didnt like Humble, shows that our taste for hip hop is different. Maybe just leave it at that? Because just saying "your opinion is bad buhuu", says more about you than it does about me lol"
On Jesca Hoop - Memories Are Now
"agreed"
On Foxygen - Hang
"Alright, I will!!"
On Injury Reserve - Floss
"I don't get your sentiment? If they just set out to make a "different" album then what's the point? That being said, this album is still okay, just far from the quality of LftDO."
On J. Cole - 4 Your Eyez Only
"@shazfiron. Please tell me what aspect of this album is in any way passable. I did not want to waste time roasting this album, hence the vague review, but I'll be more than happy to do it anyways if you want lol"
On Gucci Mane - Woptober
"Yeah they are not here on AOTY, but check out his Wiki. Since March last year he has released 13 mixtapes, two EPs, two compilations (why) and two full length LPs. That is way too many for any artist to be taken seriously.
I will correct my review, since he has not released 10 this year, but look on Spotify and it says that he has 10 mixtapes/albums/compilations released this year. SO that was where I got it from."
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