Between the Buried and Me, in 2007, released the album ‘Colors’ which is consider by many fans and critics alike to be the band’s magnum opus. I am not here to question this in any way, shape, or form; I love ‘Colors’. In high school, I found myself gradually - but surely - getting turned on more and more to more extreme forms of metal and punk music. Between the Buried and Me were a band who I admittedly had some trouble really getting into. I loved the ... read more

Excellent (A-).

True to its title, Rebirth is the greatest Jimmy Cliff album since perhaps his first few records. Even at its most derivative, the music and lyrics throughout this whole thing make for some of the most infectious reggae music I've heard in my entire time listening to the wonderfully joyous style of music (and I've been listening for the better part of 10 years - roughly half my life).

Favorites: Children's Bread, One More - Alternate Version, Reggae Music, One More, Cry No ... read more

With incredibly dated production (even for its time) and the occasionally weak lyricism, it's certainly nothing spectacular and is far from his best; however, this was the first Jimmy Cliff record I owned and as such it holds a very special place in my heart, with a few of these tracks (particularly War A Africa) remaining among my favorites in his expansive catalog. If only some of the weaker tracks were cut, then maybe this record would have aged a bit better. Still, listening to this record ... read more

On Glow On, Turnstile firmly plant one foot into dreamy indie pop territory while still keeping the other one at least somewhat planted into hardcore. This is hardcore for a mainstream audience, and the record excels because of this concoction of disparate sounds and styles. This is a must listen.

TRANS RIGHTS

ALSO SKA

(it's kind of like New Found Glory got good again and decided to make ska music)

Nice.

A friend recommended this album and while I did thoroughly enjoy some of the tracks and the atmosphere, a lot of the record didn't really do anything for me and felt pretty repetitive. Maybe a few more listens will do it.

I shouldn't have smoked that shit, now I'm on the cover of MouthBreather's "I'm Sorry Mr. Salesman"

After two consecutive albums full of phoned in performances (especially vocally) on top of lackluster songwriting, Slipknot managed to pull through in 2019 with their finest, most complete album in years. This album works well mainly because it's not really a return to form, but rather the most vital and creative the band has sounded since "Vol. 3". 'We Are Not Your Kind' is pissed off, ugly, heavy, dark, and slightly experimental - everything that once made Slipkot one of the ... read more

Decent.

Although it's still a bit spotty, Slipknot's fifth record is certainly an improvement over the mediocre "All Hope Is Gone".

Favorites: XIX, Sarcastrophe, AOV, Killpop, Nomadic

Passable.

Slipknot goes cock rock on a generally mediocre album that greatly overstays its welcome

Favorites: Psychosocial, Dead Memories, This Cold Black, All Hope Is Gone

This album is perfect and I will tell you why

EDIT: Masterpiece.

Right from the first swells of illustrious opener "Bloom At Night", 'Animal' invites you in, filling your ears with warm layer upon layer, topped off by the ever-beautiful vocal stylings of frontwoman Laura Marling. This continues pretty much from beginning to end - provocative, artsy instrumentals expanding gradually as the record bleeds along. Easily one of the finest records of the year so far.

Excellent.

I know it may be nothing special but goddamn I LOVE this record. Infectious hooks and clever wordplay abound, easily one of my favorite country records in recent memory. And this may be a stretch, but this record plays out almost feeling like a post-punk record, with guitar tones reminiscent of The Clash and even latter day Mr. Bungle, complimented by crisp vocal performances that would not feel out of place on a record by, say, Viagra Boys or Joy Division or The Cure.

I was not a fan of the last record (2017's Created In The Image of Suffering); I found it to be unoriginal, forgettable, and just a bit of a monotonous drag all the way through. This new record, however, manages to be dark in almost all the right ways and uses slow burns to create atmosphere much more effectively than before. It's not a perfect record by any means but it is a very good one.

Despite some of the record's experiments not fully panning out, Happier Than Ever is an incredibly strong and promising follow-up to an incredibly strong and promising debut. Where the last one tended to focus on adolescence and heartbreak through an angst-driven edge, this record comes across as surprisingly mature and insightful, talking largely about the pressures of stardom, sexual assault, and growing up in the spotlight. Regardless of one's personal takeaways from this record, its ... read more

Good.

Keeping in mind that these songs were written during the band's infancy in the late 70s and early 80s, it immediately becomes more forgivable that the lyrical content is rather sophomoric and dated, even for the Descendents. Obviously that doesn't fully make up for any shortcomings, but because there isn't really anything outwardly offensive in there I'm (personally, anyway) willing to let it slide. What we have here is a very typical but exhilarating and thus rather enjoyable collection ... read more

RIP Joey Jordison

Edited for slight change of opinion. This is better than Iowa. Iowa is the heavier, more cathartic one but this one has the better songwriting and more directly impacted my taste in music as the years went on.

This is an exorcism performed on oneself. This is harrowing and suffocatingly dense music, not for the weak of heart. And while it does lull a bit in the middle, Alexis Marshall's debut solo effort is an album meant to be experienced as a whole in all its disturbing glory. Tension, with no release. Art.

Excellent.

Blistering fury and big emotions collide headfirst with the cleanest production and most eventful songwriting the band has ever achieved for Alexisonfire's finest album (to date?).

Good.

Single Album is the most heartfelt, thoughtful, violently beautiful - and most importantly, BEST Album NOFX has released in a very long time. It's still greatly flawed (as is the vast majority of their discography) but for once, many of the record's flaws are, at best, endearing and, at worst, evoking of some level of sympathy or empathy for one of punk rock music's most divisive figures. Not bad NOFX, not bad.

Favorites: The Big Drag, Doors And Fours, Your Last Resort