FAVORITE TRACK: Sister

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Dreams from Yesterday

This album is very nostalgic for me. I can be the first to admit this is not one of his best projects but it reminds me of a different time which has a lot to do with why I enjoy it.

A lot of these songs sound very similar. Whether it's Mac's chill vocals or the very basic acoustic chords, it's a very laid-back album. Sometimes songs are too similar- with the intro of My Old Man and This Old Dog sounding exactly the same. The ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: mute

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

So this was Remo Drive's first release. I had to do a little research on it to find that it was only up on Bandcamp for a few months before being taken down because two of the songs on here got re-recorded for their other EPs.

Away is a really good song but it's a little messier and unruly on this version. mute is extremely catchy, although a little bit amateur sounding. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is ... read more

god this song is so stupid but also one of my favorite Christmas songs ever

FAVORITE TRACK: Forgiveness

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Wait for the Sun

Similar to their Demos 2014, Wait for the Sun definitely has a more metal influence in it. Diving has a loud, fast guitar and Erase Me has screaming vocals. The angry, slow-burn sound of Sleepless and Forgiveness is great. The lyrics of Forgiveness are deep and written greatly. Empty Promises has this catchy riff that shows as influence for future Remo sound.

I prefer Demos 2014 over this but this does have a great sound for ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Blank Face Bad Taste

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Rainman

Demos 2014 is a more gritty and metal sound for Remo Drive. There's a lot of screamo influences on tracks like Away and Stay Out Longer along with a loud and brush emo sound on Provincial and Instinct. Monetary and Blank Face Bad Taste have great vocals from Erik Paulson and sound like a really prominent base for future Remo music. There's also some great instrumentals on this- Hyland, My Good Friend is a pro Skater and Blank ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Name Brand

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: I'm My Own Doctor

This feels like home to me. Just that transition form Art School to Strawberita is enough to prove how talented this band actually is.

FAVORITE TRACK: The Grind

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Ezra and Marla

I have literally done everything in my power to like this album. Remo Drive is one of my favorite bands ever. I’ve seen them 3 times, 2 times while touring for this album. But there’s something about the energy of Greatest Hits that carries an audience that NED can’t. I know this album is a more mature take and I’m proud of the band for wanting to make more “grown-up” music but it truly ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Romeo

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Nearly Perfect

Natural, Everyday Degradation is my least favorite Remo Drive album. To me, it's their weakest project by a mile and has the least personality of any of their music. So there's not a lot that an extended EP can do to save it. However, Romeo has more personality than every sonf on the album combined. I'm glad they released here but what a missed opportunity to not make this a leading single for the album itself.

The other two songs ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: One Rizla

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Donk

I know it's only been four days, but I find myself falling more in love with the new shame record as the days go on. And, because of that, it's sparked a new interest in listening to this record again. I liked a few songs off of this over the years but this is the first time since then I'm taking a seat and listening to this in full to review it.

Songs of Praise is a gritty, more intense sounding record. There's these kinda scary vocals ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Girls & Boys

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: In Spite of Ourselves

EDIT (Dec. 2024): Wait IJBOL i'm organzining my account for the first time ever, so I'm reading a lot of reviews I wrote four or five years ago for the first time since. I've come across a few albums now that I definitely would give a lower rating but this is the first time I'm coming across one where I would've given it a higher rating.

Since writing this in January 2021, I've seen ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Is There Something in the Movies? (Briston Maroney Version)

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Limbo Bitch (feat. Donna Missal) (Donna Missal Remix)

This is really interesting. For an album of remixes and covers, it's very original and fun. Although it's not as good as the original, these songs are good and put a nice twist on Samia's versions- like the addition of MICHELLE's and The Districts' instrumentals on their tracks. The Remo Drive cover is very good, as well. I actually prefer the ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Water in the Well

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None

I could not wait for this one. I love this recent pop-up of strong and angry post-punk from across the pond with bands like IDLES, Fontaines D.C. and black midi becoming some easy favorites for the past decade. I always clump shame in with those acts but even I wasn't crazy about shame's debut. There's a few songs on it that I love but other acts just overshadowed them. However, I always saw the potential in shame so ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Love Sick

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Blame Game

So Beach Bunny's debut album, Honeymoon, was one of my favorite releases of 2020. I think the band has stellar vocals and production and is one of the blueprints for cutesy power-pop with roaring riffs and strong vocals to back it. So I was more than excited to hear what else this band had in store and hearing the single Good Girls (Don't Get Used) before hearing the full EP, I became even more excited.

Every song on this is so ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Toxic

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: L8r Boi

Ashnikko's first, longer project is here and I couldn't be more excited. Ash is someone I've really been excited to see a full release from for a while so to see something longer from her excites me.

This mixtape is filled to the brim great, witty lyrics. She's honestly the only artist on the planet to pull off the lyrics on Slumber Party and L8r Boi and the ridiculousness of Clitoris! The Musical. The beats on this are unique and memorable ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Time Crunch

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Last Year

This is my friend's band and I went into this pretty blind and trying to be as unbiased as I can so I can review it. Nostalgia Trip is a solid indie-pop, pop-punk record. The guitar on this is really laidback on Last Year but there's some really solid riffs, like on Future and 7:50. The vocals on this can be a hit or miss. They're great on Time Crunch but on songs like 7:50, they get a little overshadowed by the pop-punk ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Organ

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: What Is Christmas?

I like this EP. It has a really interesting use of samples from different monologues or different films. The sample on Abstract and Ride are used really well. Every song is a very interesting mix of sounds and samples to create something unique. The shift in sound towards the end of Steel is a really good twist for the song and the switch to a fast, electronic drum on Sick is a good change of pace. Overall, I think I'm New Here is ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Tay-K Visits Wonderland!

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: green_remix

I hate to be a downer because I respect thew weirdness of this, it's just not a sound for me. This album is a sensory overload. It is the definition of "bubblegum bass"- it's super sweet with strange mixes. The production isn't great but the quality of it is probably the most charming thing about it. The weird video game humor on this is a nice touch and really fun, like on the track Tay-K Visits Wonderland! ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: ГЛАЗ

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Be Your Own Dentist

For those of you who may not, Katya is a drag queen who competed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 7 and all stars 2. She's probably more famous for being the counter to Trixie Mattel on the webshow UNHhhh, though. After years of working with Trixie, it only made sense for Katya to enter music as well but to make something weird and vulgar in her usual Katya ways.

This EP is, as expected from anyone who is familiar with Katya, ... read more

Deleted the score for this but not the review because significantly stole all their songs from another band and mapleway was allegedly led by a pedophile. Don’t bother reading this review.

FAVORITE TRACKS: January 26th, 2018 / Waste

LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS: Summer School - - Your Bag's Unpacked / The Bitter Cold

I know these are a bunch of demos but these are really clean and great emo music. mapleway does the first five songs on this EP and Significantly. performs the other four. ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Mars

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Whoa

Before getting into this EP, I just want to point out that I'm obsessed with RAKIYAH's aesthetic. The sexy and icy color palette she brings to create this metallic, futuristic cover and art direction is really pleasing to me.

Into The Cosmos is an R&B record that sounds like a watered down Ariana Grande and SZA. The production is good, the lyrics are fine and the songs follow a common theme, but the vocals are so run of the mill and so ... read more