This album weaves together live improvisations with the audience removed, and studio recorded tracks, giving it a hybrid feel between a concert and a studio album. The drumming and percussion have an exploratory, free form jam style that really brings out the improvisational aspect, but at the same time, even when they’re jamming, there’s still a controlled sense of direction. Overall, this was a fun avant prog album with a slightly darker and more expansive atmosphere.

For a newer Tindersticks album, there’s really nothing here they haven’t done before, but it’s a solid listen from start to finish. It carries their signature lush, melancholic aesthetic with a touch of warmth and expansiveness. The arrangements are very orchestral, but still grounded in their classic chamber pop sound. It’s rich in atmosphere without feeling overdone, and while it doesn’t break new ground, it’s another strong album in their catalog.

I’m starting to enjoy Lene Lovich more the deeper I dive into her music. She’s got all the fun aesthetics that I really enjoy, from playful instrumentation to quirky synth pop, but what really seals the deal for me is how she blends all that with a darker post punk edge. It’s an interesting contrast that gives her music a lot of personality and makes it stand out from other artists in the same lane.

This is definitely one of my top favorite albums from The Who. It’s a very tongue in cheek psychedelic album that plays directly off the album’s title, The Who Sell Out. The whole thing is structured like a pirate radio broadcast, with fake commercials scattered between songs, which adds a clever conceptual layer. Musically, it’s a colorful psychedelic pop album with an experimental edge, but still maintains a pop friendly and accessible sound that’s easy to latch onto.

This is definitely one of those classic and influential albums that tends to be overlooked. It’s hard to say exactly who made the first true industrial album, but this one is definitely a top contender, especially when it comes to the heavier, more aggressive side of industrial. At its core, it’s still a post punk record, and you can really hear the punk influence in the raw, stripped down production and the no frills mixing. That rawness is part of what gives it so much energy and ... read more

The release of this album really caught me by surprise, especially considering Tim Smith is no longer with us. That said, this sounds exactly like what you’d expect from the Cardiacs, in the best way possible. This album has actually been in the works since around 2007 or 2008, back when Tim began dealing with serious health issues. As his condition worsened, not only was making music incredibly difficult, but live performances were completely out of the question.

After Tim’s ... read more

This album plays out like a provocative and theatrical concept album. I can definitely see how it pushed boundaries. Not just in terms of production, but culturally as well. It was way ahead of its time. The scope of this album feels so much bigger than most synthpop or new wave records from that era.

If you like “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, then you should absolutely give this entire album a listen. They even did a cover of “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, ... read more

The main reason I decided to check out this band was because I love American Football, and obviously when you come across another band from the post hardcore and emo scene called Modern Baseball, how can you not be curious? As for this album, it definitely leans more upbeat and has a distinctly modern pop punk feel to it. Overall, it’s a decent listen, but stylistically it’s just not quite my thing.

This is definitely a classic album for 80s post punk. It still holds onto Killing Joke’s dark aesthetic, but it’s more radio friendly than their earlier albums. You will also pick up on a bit of glam influence, especially in the track “Eighties.” Something else I just learned while listening is that the album was produced by Chris Kimsey, who’s best known for his work with The Rolling Stones. That definitely explains some of the album’s polish and broader ... read more

This is one of those albums that unfortunately flew under the radar, and it seems like almost no one is aware of it. Chris Connelly had a major role in Ministry, Revolting Cocks, and Wax Trax! Records, and he’s mostly known for his work in the 80s industrial movement. But this solo album from 2018 is something entirely different.

If you enjoyed You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen, Blackstar by David Bowie, or the later works of Nick Cave, then this is absolutely an album worth seeking ... read more

So I’ve always been a huge fan of Mark E. Smith and The Fall, so much so that I can proudly say I saw them live in Boulder, Colorado about 20 years ago. That show will always stand out among all the bands I’ve ever seen live. They didn’t really do anything all that memorable performance wise, but just the fact that they’re such a legendary band and I got to see Mark E. Smith perform live before he passed away makes it unforgettable.

Now, with that being said, I’m ... read more

This is definitely classic Bruce Springsteen, but I have to say it was a little more energetic than I was expecting. It also has a grandiose sound that feels like it pulls from baroque pop influences. I’d have to say the piano and organ were my favorite elements. They both played a key role in giving the entire album that youthful, energetic, and cinematic feel.

Well, for the most part, this sounds like any other CCR album I’ve heard so far, which is decent, but nothing too spectacular. Although, I will say, at first I thought this album was going to be different because the opening track “Ramble Tamble” was an epic opener with some changing dynamics that made me think the entire album was going to follow that same path. But instead, the rest of the album just sounded like classic CCR. Either way, I’m glad I listened to it, ... read more

So I’m still working my way through Marillion’s discography, and I haven’t heard anything past this album yet, but so far, this is definitely their best album since the departure of Fish. It feels like they got a second wind.

This is also one of those albums you really want to hear in the right environment where you can actually sit down and pay attention. The first time I listened to it was at work, and it just kind of faded into the background as a distraction. But once I ... read more

Well, at first I thought maybe I just had to be in the right mood for this album, but after listening to it twice over two days, I think it’s fair to say I really didn’t care for it. It just felt so cliché and stereotypical that I honestly found it pretty boring. Even the humor and wit that people seem to praise didn’t really connect with me either.

At first I wasn’t too sure about this album, but I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. It definitely feels a little more experimental compared to what Paul Simon was doing back in the 70s. This one leans into more sophisticated 80s textures, synthesizers, layered production, and a more polished studio sound.

Something else I found interesting is that it originally started out as another Simon & Garfunkel album, but the project eventually evolved into a solo Simon ... read more

This is another one of those albums that has run dry for me due to radio fatigue. At one point in time, I definitely would have given it a higher review, but it definitely had its time and place. One thing I’ll say is that this one’s not as grungy as their first two, instead it leans more toward 90s alternative. So it definitely shows how grunge was beginning to fade away during this time period.

There’s some decent tracks on this album, but then you’ve got some very sleazy anthems like “Born in the U.S.A.” which have been shoved down our throats for the last 40 years. With that being said, I’ll just leave the review at that.

I absolutely love this album and consider it a noise rock masterpiece. It was part of the early ’80s No Wave scene in New York, and out of everything from that movement, this is probably my favorite album. The whole thing is driven by two bassists, one guitarist, and two drummers. Now, having two drummers might sound excessive or overwhelming, but it’s actually the opposite. For an experimental noise rock album, this one is surprisingly accessible. The drums and percussion have more ... read more

Out of all the material Stöner has released, I personally think some of their best tracks are on this 5-track EP. These songs came out of jam sessions from the Totally… era, and you can really feel that loose, in the moment energy. It’s classic stoner and desert rock, but with more of a groove. You can definitely hear some punk influences worked into the edges, and the whole EP has a more colorful, psychedelic vibe compared to their other stuff.