Red House Painters in jolly form (there's even a Silly Love Songs cover ffs). It should *not* work, but I'd feel comfortable calling this RHP's third best. The first two tracks are a double whammy and two of the best tracks of Kozelek's entire vast catalog, but a lot of the tracks here show Kozelek writing with a certain optimism I don't think can be found in quite the same way elsewhere in his discography
An immaculately produced post-punk track. Deeply intrigued to see where this goes next, going to keep my eyes (and ears) peeled for an EP or LP with this sound
A total hodge lodge of twinkling space age pop, elaborate jazz fusion, and heady psychedelia, all in gloriously kaleidoscopic fashion. Constantly keeps you on your toes while assuredly delivering some ear candy no matter the sonic direction a given track takes. Stellar
The production and general presentation comes off as ever so slightly stale at points, but those gripes are swiped away by Ngonda’s voice- at first, it has a raw quality to it that’s almost jarring. The smooth-as-silk production has you thinking it’ll be a deep, bellowing voice carrying things through, while Ngonda’s voice is really exceptionally higher-register. But it takes all of, what, ten seconds, to convince you of every word being sung. The best throwback Soul ... read more
Why this record isn't considered a late career classic in the same vein as Chaos and Creation I'll never understand. Macca propelled into the 21st century with a knack for pumping out stellar hooks and crisp production much like he had for 35 years already by this point
Though I wish I could call this an unexpected comeback for Modest Mouse, there’s just a lack of consistent quality plaguing the entire record. There are absolutely moments that feel like vintage MM in a really enjoyable way (Life’s a Dream and the closer in particular), but also a handful of tracks that are astoundingly clogged. Isaac Brock still has a spark that I doubt will ever be fully snuffed out, but MM as a band feels like they just can’t make a true classic again
Coming through with their second project this year, Converge somehow manage to up the ante from the superb Love Is Not Enough. Hum of Hurt is likely Converge's best record since All We Love if you ask me- there's a ferocity in brevity found here that really does feel reminiscent of Jane Doe, while still feeling firmly forward-thinking for the band as well. Like any of their releases, not for everyone, or even most I'd argue- but for any Converge fan, this is yet another stellar ... read more
Highly washed out production that ultimately serves to make the experience feel ‘empty’ far more than properly dreamy or anything like that
Definitely DH’s most sonically diverse record, though that certainly doesn’t mean ‘best’. Moments like Night People drift so far from their ‘sound’ that it feels like murky waters. Still- the first three tracks are truly stellar indie rock-post-rock-blackgaze swirls
New Bermuda had the near impossible task of following up what is *the* Blackgaze record for pretty much everyone, meaning it was in some respects doomed- all in all, it's not among DH's 'best', but this is still impressive by most accounts. Baby Blue is also a top five track of theirs if you ask me
The performances certainly feel like that dismemberment plan discordant pocket, Transatlanticism has a warmth to it that gives it a unique edge among your average Indie Rocker from this period. The title track is nearly undoubtedly DCFC’s best, but either way these are phenomenal cuts
A subtle, astoundingly gentle Emo record that feels like it hinges on a Post-HC type of sound... but never quite makes the leap. This isn't to the record's detriment- if anything, it gives this record a particular flair among DCFC's discography, while still featuring several of their best cuts, Title Track, For What Reason, the Company Calls(es)
A tried and true New Wave pop gourmet. Suffers somewhat from the 80s 'hits and the rest' effect, but honestly? Lauper's voice and personality is enough to carry even the more off-kilter moments here. In many ways a classic even if this isn't a personal favorite of mine
My initial reaction to In Square Circle was hostility- the record feels like the death knell of what is my (and countless others') favorite run of albums in music history. There's no doubt that the production on In Square Circle is a step (or, well, *several*) below Stevie's monolithic 70s records. That said, revisiting it now- the soul is still there. Beneath the cheesiness, there's still solidly enjoyable lyricism, and such an earnest stab at delivering catchy anthems. On ... read more
Time Moves Slow is the obvious star here (why did I just realize after all this time this is the Future Islands vocalist?), but BBNG's brand of smoother than silk Jazz Fusion is hard to deny here
A fascinatingly beautiful gem from a band that would promptly cease to exist. No One Waved Goodbye features Slowcore instrumentation reminiscent of similar acts from the era such as Low or even Molina's Ghost Tropic sound. The vocals however have a twee quality to them that often feels like it should be at odds with the quite depressive production- and yet it fits like a glove. Incredibly subtle record that creeps up on you with its firepower
It’s fierce, it’s technical, it’s badaas- it’s Gojira’s third best, but also perhaps the best summation of their sound
One of the best revivalist records of the 2020s thus far, a decade which seems to be transfixed on 'looking back'. In Ware's case, it's a wink back to Disco's glamorous roots while also keeping a steadfast aim forward, pushing the sound towards new heights
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Recent Review Comments
On Jalen Ngonda - Doctrine of Love
"@Shayden 100% agree, it’s a throwback record done right"
On 2Pac - Me Against The World
"@Cloudboy019 yeah I def get what you mean. Pac’s cadence and energy is so infectious for me I was able to look past the production being relatively ‘one-note’, even though like you said it is excellent production. That’s an excellent analogy"
On 2Pac - Me Against The World
"@Cloudboy019 that's a fair critique, I will say flow is not Pac's strongsuit, though a lot of people would probably disagree with that. The production is pretty much perfect here imo but it is definitely uniform across the record so I could see it growing stale if G-Funk adjacent stuff isn't as much your bag"
On David Bowie - David Bowie [Space Oddity]
"@usur_disc350 I’ll admit I’ve not revisited this much at all in the last couple years, but I’ll definitely stand by it having several great cuts beyond the title track"
On usur_disc350's review of McKinley Dixon - Magic, Alive!
"Honestly, really well put. I still have this rated pretty highly but I'd say I feel similarly, there's a sheen over this style of 'indie rap' that's starting to feel like the sheen that's covered a large bulk of indie rock the past decade (post-Mac if you will), it's a sheen of homogenization. Hadn't really put much thought to it until now but I think this absolutely hits the nail on the head, and is probably why despite there being so much 'good' hip-hop nowadays, the bulk of it feels like one big swirl of sameness. Excellent take"
On susquatch - Water Plant
"@Rileone it is yeah but it’s also definitely math rock too"
On Faith Evans & The Notorious B.I.G. - The King & I
"@TheTrillTrolla that’s actually very informative, thank you!"
On Doofy's review of The The - Infected
"I prefer Soul Mining a shade, but I’ll agree that this record should be considered as far closer in quality than most. Nearly everything that makes Soul Mining so excellent is found here too, excellent production and songwriting especially"
On Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Clifford Brown & Max Roach
"@HomeSession3 holy shit what a story! Thank you for sharing, that certainly sounds like one of those life-defining moments, for you and Roach. Live Jazz may be the definitive form of live performing for the reasons you said- it makes the frail jolt to life"
On My New Band Believe - My New Band Believe
"@Trazyn I hate saying ‘annoying’ bc that’s reductive, there are def moments where the lyricism along with the vocal style felt really contrived and grating to me though. Overall it’s certainly not an ‘annoying’ album, just nothing particularly new for Windmill. I would say I’m annoyed with the windmill scene in general nowadays"
On Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
"@Litebill931 thank you much! I have to stop myself from over-writing a lot of the time lol"
On π©πππππππΆππ's review of Slayyyter - WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA
"First review of this project that’s really made me want to check it out- seriously excellent write-up"
On XTC - Drums and Wires
"@sher12308 you’re totally right! Major goof on my part, I’ll edit that, appreciate the call-out"
On King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
"@yusukeYYH thank you so much! His music is this really intriguing blend of abstract and extremely vivid"
On Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
"@ScaredDog6163 yeah for sure! I appreciate the compliment! Jeff Buckley is a perfect example of why 90s rock really shouldn’t be funneled into those two ‘categories’ I listed because he blends so many styles and sounds (a major reason why Grace is one of the most majestic albums of all time). I’m the same as you in that there’s very little I truly dislike that I listen to- it makes it a lot easier to be encouraged to check out more stuff! Let me know when you’ve got those reviews typed out, I’d love to check em out!"
On Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
"Sorry for the long winded answer, hope that helps! If you need help finding some specific bands lmk too and I can try and throw you some based on what you currently rock with π€"
On Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
"The other main strain in my mind is Slacker Rock (the kind I tend to prefer a bit). This is your Pavements, Built to Spills, Weezers, etc. This style of rock tended to ‘look forward’ whereas grunge took influence from a lot of its contemporaries in many ways.
In terms of what I’d do for a deep dive now- honestly, I’d determine which strain you like more and start with the big bands before digging deeper, maybe even trying out some of the influences/ similar bands. For instance, if you really fw Weezer I’d recommend other Geek/Wacky Rock bands like Cake or Grandaddy. Same goes for, say, AIC- you could check out other alternative metal bands for instance."
On Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
"@ScaredDog6163 for sure! I went on a pretty big 90s rock binge a couple years back and it’s definitely a vast canyon. This is a wildly simplified answer, but imo there are two *main* streams of 90s rock. The first is what most people think of , being Grunge. These are your Nirvanas and Pearl Jams and basically what the average person will probably think of when they think of ‘90s rock’- and it’s great! Grunge pulls a lot from heavier influences depending on the band, such as Punk and Noise Rock for Nirvana or even Metal with bands like Alice In Chains."
On The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
"@Zubb autism + long commutes to work goes a long way lmao"
On Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
"@Iam_AKne thank you so much! It’s become something of a passion of mine for sure. The kind words go a long way, I’d love to have my own site or something one day"
On Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
"@Iam_AKne no I’m not, it’s funny you ask because in high school I had plans to maybe become a writer but it never panned out"
On Johnny Blue Skies - Mutiny After Midnight
"Unless you find a rip somewhere or dish out thirty bucks it’s impossible for the time being unfortunately, it is an absolute blast of a record though no doubt, one of his best easily"
On Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
"@Iam_AKne thank you much! I have fun with them lol"
On Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage Acts II & III
"@ScottShelby that does look interesting, I’ll try and get to it later today, thanks again for all the recs! You’re the Zappa guy so it’s been helpful as a total Zappa novice"
On Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage Acts II & III
"@ScottShelby honestly, having sampled a handful of tracks from his studio records to follow from here I think I’m going to bow out for the time being on his discography, I’d prefer to end it on a high note. Someday I’ll eventually go the whole distance but I think I’d honestly just get burned out going through a series of just messy subpar records tbh"
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