If you had to listen to one piece of ZHU's work and one alone, I would recommend this EP 100%. It's short and wonderfully put together to exemplify the kind of sound that ZHU goes after in his songs. Each one has its own different flavor, spiciness, and fun factor. Genesis Series really did give a nice glimpse of what he could do, and stardustexhalemarrakechdreams shows exactly what those heights can be,

Favorite track(s): Exhale, Chasing Marrakech ⭐, Dreams
Least favorite track(s): If I ... read more

To this day, when I think of ZHU, I picture this EP in my head. Here is where he is able to show how well he can work with guests/features to make new and fun-sounding dance music that's as creative as it is groove-able. Only one track hangs low, but the rest are either fun to hear or some of my favorites in ZHU's entire catalog.

Favorite track(s): Automatic; Testatrossa Music ⭐; Hold Up, Wait a Minute; Working For It
Least favorite track(s):

Automatic - 87
As Crazy As It Is - ... read more

This EP is carried by the two opening tracks, but I enjoy them so much that every so often I listen to the rest of the EP and then am delighted once it finishes up and I can hear them again. Here we can see ZHU get his foot in the door of the genre and opens it up to some fun things to come.

Favorite track(s): Stay Closer, Faded ⭐
Least favorite track(s): Paradise Awaits

Stay Closer - 82
Faded - 85
Paradise Awaits - 63
Superfriends - 71
The One - 76
Cocaine Model - 77

The Strokes showed that after their hiatus, it was all definitely worth the wait. I find this to be the most well-produced, packaged, and artistic album they've made to date. I would not skip any song here, I appreciate every single sound and goal they have for with each track. I can definitely see this as taking over my personal favorite album of theirs given more time.

Favorite track(s): The Adults Are Talking ⭐, Selfless, Bad Decisions, Eternal Summer, Ode to the Mets
Least favorite ... read more

I think when this album first came out, I was too harsh on it. I listened through it once and never came back to it ever again because of how nothing really clicked with me as their previous albums did. However, when I revisited it years later, it began to grow on me a bit. Don't get me wrong, it's still my least favorite album of theirs, but I can appreciate some songs on it now in a way I never did before or never could have if I didn't give it another chance.

Favorite track(s): One Way ... read more

Yes, I know this album seems all over the place or whatever but the SOUND of this album, man, I love it so much. There's a reason this is my most-listened album of theirs. I never get tired of coming back to and hearing this album. It's a mix of nostalgia and my own love for the older 80s sound that they go for on some songs. I understand this isn't for everyone, and that this is somewhat of a hot take in the fandom, but Angles is and will continue to be my personal favorite album of theirs. ... read more

Here we finally start to see some regression. This is the longest tracklisting so far and I think this album could have definitely benefitted from some trimming. The first four tracks start off hot in my opinion, and then from then on out it declines substantially and is very inconsistent. They still know how to bring that great indie rock sound they've made us very much aware of on their first two albums, but they seem aimless and inconsistent on this record.

Favorite track(s): You Only Live ... read more

The band shows here that their debut album wasn't a fluke. They know how to maintain that spark they had in Is This It. Granted, some songs fall flat in comparison, but there are still several fantastic tracks on here that keep me loving their music still.

Favorite track(s): What Ever Happened?, Reptilia ⭐, Automatic Stop, Under Control, I Can't Win
Least favorite track(s): You Talk Way Too Much, Between Love & Hate, The Way It Is

The Strokes holds a lot of nostalgia for me. In high school, they were one of the very first bands I listened to while exploring indie rock and I hooked on to them quickly and easily after then. What a way to start your musical career.

Favorite track(s): The Modern Age, Soma, Someday ⭐, Last Nite
Least favorite track(s): Alone Together, Hard to Explain

Of Billie's two albums, this one is definitely my favorite and the one I go back to the most. As you can see below, there are lots and lots of tracks that I really appreciate. I love the different sounds and styles she has in some of these tracks. It provides me with so much re-listenability, even if there are some songs I might not be nearly as into as the rest. Regardless, it's always so satisfying by the time I get to the end and get to hear the build-up and release in the title track. I ... read more

Once again I find myself in the space where for a long time, I've enjoyed ZHU in his EPs but hardly at all in his studio albums. I don't know if it's the extended format that seems to make him lose his focus and tact, but there's not one of his albums that I feel good about, let alone close to how much I enjoy many (or all) of his EPS. I know this album is supposed to sound dark and 'futuristic', and I enjoy that vibe and sound on some tracks, but overall this feels dull and not worth coming ... read more

Hyperpop is still a genre I'm trying to dip my toes into, but as a lifelong EDM fan, this album hits the sweet spot for me of pushing forward the sound of electronic music and yet maintaining that dance sound that you know and want out of such a record. I know that hyperpop as a whole is a very amorphous genre and can comprise a lot of different types of styles and sounds within it, but I think I found the little niche of it that suits my musical palette the most given my past listening ... read more

Alright, here we go. So begins my Kanye West discography reviews. I'll preface this by saying that I've been a long-time fan of his and he currently ranks as my most-streamed artist (per last.fm) of all time by about 1.5k streams and about 35% more than my second artist. I often have gone through phases in my life where all I do is listen to his music, so his music has been through lots of periods of my life when I really needed something to grasp onto. I've also formed some great friendships ... read more

I love the cohesive sound and lushness of it at times. The synths are full and make for a good backdrop for Caroline's singing throughout. It's hard not to get some of the melodies stuck in your head after a listen, for me at least. I'm slightly torn because I really, really enjoy half this album, while the other half is something I could do without. I'd still probably be more than happy to have this album on in the background while doing other things and would listen to it all the way through, ... read more

I never appreciated this album enough when it came out. At the time I didn't care or know much about Tyler. The only song I knew from here for years was Who Dat Boy, and I enjoyed it! But I never gave it a thought to go and check out anything else. It wasn't until this year that I really explored Tyler's newer stuff. I had only known his earlier work and was put off by it enough after Cherry Bomb to not gravitate towards it on my own anymore. That all changed now though. I understand what this ... read more

This is the album that finally got me to listen to Tyler a lot. This is the album that finally got me to pay attention enough to Tyler's performances to make sure I got to see him on tour. This is the album that has helped cap a fantastic three-album run for Tyler. Before checking this album out on release, my friends had shared Tyler's earlier projects a la Bastard, Goblin, and Wolf with me but non of those projects worked well for me. Yeah maybe there was a good song here or there but I ... read more

I'm not sure why it took me so long to eventually check out this album. It wasn't until I got into Call Me If You Get Lost that I finally visited IGOR for a full listen. IGOR has all the musical textures and styles I love, paired with the concept for the album, and Tyler's command over exactly what he wants the audience to get out of his albums has turned this into a top favorite album of mine from the 2010s easily. The production is so pleasing and fun at times, then dark and dirty at others. ... read more

Outside of Sun in Our Eyes and Kamikaze (a bonus track on the international version and non-album single otherwise), I never paid attention to this album until this year. Until then, I had been content with No Mythologies to Follow and never felt the need to keep up with any of MØ's other work. But boy was I missing out on some great stuff in here once I took the time to catch up on her discography before the release of Motordrome. Initially, I was thrown off by her change to a more ... read more

This is a very nostalgic record for me. I came across it at a time when I quickly and easily fell in love with its sound, and MØ's music has been a part of my life ever since. Some songs fall off compared to others, but I'll happily listen through this album any time, especially for my favorites. For a debut album, she did a great job of establishing her sound and songwriting. I'm happy that she and her music found their way into my life.

Favorite track(s): Maiden, Pilgrim ⭐, XXX 88 ... read more

Mura Masa continues to push forward in his personal exploration of trap and electronic sound as a whole, but this album has too many lows for me to consider it in as high regard as I do for Soundtrack to a Death and Someday Somewhere. There are definitely some tracks on here that I love (including the inclusion of Firefly from the previous EP and Lovesick but now with the A$AP Rocky feature), but songs like All Around The World, give me The ground, Who Is It Gonna Be, and Blu drag down the ... read more