I get the appeal for some, but I just could not get into this album.

Songs of a Lost World definitely captures the essence that I think a lot of people are feeling. I just think of the closing track with the lyrics "nothing Left of all I loved, it all feels wrong" "It's all Gone" "It's all Gone" "It's All Gone." With what seems like a world of chaos and destruction, we feel that things will never return to a state where we felt loved, safe, etc.

Rating:

Playability (8/10): I think this is definitely going ... read more

I can understand why Rolling Stone Magazine put this at #1 on their 500 GOAT list. You can argue that other records also deserve this, but my goodness this is such a beautiful record that still feels so relevant today. Also, how is the production on this so good for something that came out in 1971. It is so clean sounding!

Here is the rating breakdown:

Repeatability/Recallability (10/10): 53 years after release and I could listen to this record weekly as if I just discovered it. Also the ... read more

This is a decent album. The song writing is good. However, there are some glaring things that make this a slightly above average Post-Rock album versus a great one. Their debut EP was much better than their first LP.

- Repeatability (6/10) :
The repeatability of this record is not great but it is not bad. It is something that I could listen to a few more times in my life and not be upset, but it is not something that I will go out and seek.
- Song Strength (7/10):
The song strength is the ... read more

Wow, this is 18 minutes of pure bliss.

This makes sense why this is rated one of the best records of 2005. It was an absolute gem when it first came out and it holds up now. This was my first introduction to Sufjan. It might be my highest rated album, but I think I still would say Carrie and Lowell is my favorite still.

Exactly what I would look for in a Post-Rock album. The opening track's melody is catchy and has some beautiful build to it. The only thing that takes away from having a higher rating is that the production was a little lackluster in certain songs which took a few points away. Also, only a 6/10 for originality because I don't think I could pick this band out of a lineup of other Post-Rock bands. Otherwise, this is a pretty memorable Post-Rock album that has become an instant relaxation/reading ... read more

Best record I have heard so far this year. I can see this becoming an instant classic in the 5th wave emo scene. The addition of the horns in the tracks adds a beautiful layer to each song. Reminds me of some of the Dreamo albums of the mid-2000s. It is also the first album that truly had zero songs that were underwhelming. All 9 tracks could make it on my banger playlist. Hope that this album catches more of a circulation so this band can get more of the exposure they deserve.

I see the production and the intent, but these all just fell flat.

I wouldn't say this is as great as Takk or (), but this is definitely an absolute gorgeous album.

Original Comment (12/26/2023): Unprocessed telling everyone who was trying to finalize their AOTY list to just hold on. What a way to end the year with a banger!

Updated Review (7/29/2024)
At the time this record came out, I really did have some recency bias for it. I recently went back to this for a Discord review group I am involved in. I also think that a lot of hype records for me tend to do well and dissipate overtime. I also am constantly recalibrating my ratings and found I inflated a ... read more

The album has really grown with each listen. a 9 point jump from the first rating and probably going to be a top 5 album when things shake out for my AOTY list.

An 85 based on the first few listens of this record. However, I do feel there are more layers to unpack that could add a few points to this score. I think this is the best hip-hop record of the year. The instrumentation and having live musicians perform as the backing also make this record that much more special. I would love to see Denzel Curry and McKinley Dixon team up for a track.

A very solid record. I didn't notice anything that stuck out too much but still a solid listen from front to back. Also, very tight for a band that is only releasing their second album.

An album that came outta no where and might be one of the biggest surprises of the year!

I still love Caskets, but they definitely had a sophomore slump. I think that they tried too hard to up their level and it back fired. They still have a few good songs on this record, but it was a step down from Lost Souls.

Very talented group. The vocalist and band performed well throughout the album. However, where i ended up getting lost was around the variation. I couldn't distinguish most of the songs apart form each other. Even with more listens, I don't think I would be able to pick this band out if they randomly came on a playlist. However, they are still a newer band and have a lot of energy and chops so will keep following their career!

They could have gotten a couple extra points, but the I Miss You Cover threw it off some. I think is an absolute wonderful cover, but I just didn't think it should have been on the album. I very much would have preferred to have another original. I think if they were to do a Deluxe version, then throwing that cover in there would have been fine.

4 years in the making and it completely paid off. They perfectly blended the 80s synth sound with modern metalcore.

Ranking of songs:
Rearview
Nemesis
Portals
Ruminate
Collar
Eyes of Luna
Disaster
Antithesis
Survive
Fearmonger
Cold War

It is it's highs and it has it's lows. Keeper of the Lake is definitely the best track on the album. What this album feels like is what I wish The Mars Volta self-titled from last year sounded like. A solid record, but doesn't quite live up to Pink Lemonade or First Temple. I will give it a few more listens, but this is where I am feeling this record lands.