I am absolutely captivated by this album. I first discovered Rosalía around 2022, with the release of MOTOMAMI. It was one of the most interesting albums of that year, and it deservedly earned wide acclaim from critics and listeners alike. However, it was also an album that—despite its fascinating experimentation—suffered from a few small issues. Most notably, it lacked a cohesive theme, ultimately coming across as a collection of stronger and weaker songs: memorable, ... read more

As soon as the news broke that BCNR was releasing a new album, it immediately became my most anticipated release of the year. Not only because I have a deeply emotional connection to their music – it was their previous record, Ants From Up There, that permanently opened me up to genres beyond hip-hop – but also because they’re simply one of the most original and creative bands on the scene today, right up there with the likes of Squid and black midi.

I was a bit surprised by ... read more

The opening track, One Hundred Years, is the strongest one. This is probably their darkest album I’ve heard so far (kind of scary to think that others might be even darker - though, after some digging, it seems we might have already hit rock bottom). I don’t know, but the more I listen, the more I have to admit that The Cure has made building tension and atmosphere their greatest strength, elevating it to an art form in itself.

It’s almost absurd when you start analyzing the ... read more

This could have been a great album - if only someone had whispered in Abel’s ear that a little track selection wouldn’t hurt…

This year’s album doesn’t even come close to Young Team. It’s not groundbreaking, especially considering it came out after bands like My Bloody Valentine or Sonic Youth had already made their mark, but it’s still a solid listen. It builds tension really well, using quiet sections to suddenly hit with the full force of drums and distorted guitars—very shoegaze in vibe. There are plenty of weird, original mix tricks here, with snippets of phone conversations, ... read more

Enjoyable as background music. It draws from shoegaze, takes inspiration from post-rock, and vocally leans heavily into dream pop. It doesn’t do anything innovative but blends these genres well, making for a very pleasant listening experience.

I need to revisit Bad Bunny’s earlier albums and give them a more thorough listen, rather than just skipping through individual tracks. This year’s album feels much more personal than the previous ones, drawing heavily on the musical and cultural traditions of Puerto Rico, as well as the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, and the Caribbean in general. As the artist himself says: “At the peak of my career and popularity, I want to show the world who I am, who BENITO ANTONIO is, and ... read more

AOTY 2024 #6 (check full list on my profile)

Phil Elverum, after a few years of absence, including under The Microphones moniker, returns with a project that is profoundly mature, monumentally introspective, yet understated. This is an album that, when listened to casually, might leave little impression. But when given the space and attention it deserves, it has the power to move you on a deeply emotional level.

There’s no need to over-explain: Phil does what he does best. He tells ... read more

AOTY 2024 #5 (check full list on my profile)

I love Fontaines D.C. Skinty Fia ranked high on my 2022 list, and Romance ends up even higher. Initially, I felt they leaned too much into a pop direction, but over time, I’ve come to believe it worked in their favor (as evidenced by their steadily growing popularity, which is well-deserved).

A huge part of their success is Grian’s incredibly distinctive voice, but the music itself also delivers. It might not be groundbreaking or ... read more

AOTY 2024 #4 (check full list on my profile)

For many, The Cure is a legendary band, but for me - someone born after their most iconic albums were already behind them - they were one of those bands I’d always heard about but never truly explored. After many years, they’ve returned with a new album that reaffirms their place in the music world, allowing me to experience what generations before me must have felt: another major release from this iconic group.

I haven’t yet had ... read more

AOTY 2024 #3 (check full list on my profile)

I probably don’t need to convince anyone here that BI deserves recognition this year, but damn, the very fact that I’ve included an album from a genre I’ve never really connected with in my life says a lot. I don’t know how they’ve managed it, but the music here is both overwhelmingly heavy and unbelievably light at the same time.

Creating an album with just two tracks, within which we’re presented with dozens of ... read more

AOTY 2024 #2 (check full list on my profile)
A band with a rich and acclaimed legacy returns after several years, still going strong. It’s clear they haven’t wasted their time and have meticulously refined this album. I love VW because they naturally blend seemingly light, almost sugary, pop, and indie-rock melodies with lyrics tackling important issues. Ultimately, we’ve received an album that feels like a collection of highly infectious singles.

Lyrically, it addresses ... read more

AOTY 2024 #1 (check full list on my profile)
A solo project by one of the members of black midi, which is essentially an extension of the band’s earlier work—not only does it include tracks that BM performed as a group several years ago, but the only featured artist credited on the album is Seth Evans. Musically, Geordie takes us on a wild, no-holds-barred ride, as we've come to expect, but this time there are also much-needed moments of respite, introducing variety and ... read more

Led Zeppelin is a band that probably doesn’t need much introduction. They have made huge contributions to the development of music, both in the context of rock and the emerging metal genre.

- "Whole Lotta Love" from the band’s second album is one of the earliest examples of a riff based on heavy distortion, where Jimmy Page beautifully demonstrates what a guitar could do in the late '60s.

- "Dazed and Confused" from their debut album brilliantly builds a ... read more

Jimi Hendrix begins my slow (but in-depth) journey into broadly defined metal music. While Hendrix himself doesn't have much to do with metal directly, his contributions to the development of music, especially regarding his innovative use of the electric guitar, lay a significant foundation for how future music within this genre evolved. So, there are a few technical aspects of the guitar that one has to understand to grasp this groundbreaking influence. Such aspects include:

- One of the ... read more

It's really amazing, every song created by Parannoul is incredible, I totally can't stop my emotions and look at his music objectively. I sit down, turn it on, drift off, worship. Every damn time.

I have a deep sentimental attachment to AURORA's music. Back when I was heavily into hip-hop and rarely ventured into other musical genres, her music captivated me with its ethereal quality, innocence, delicacy, and remarkable maturity, especially considering her young age.

Listening to "A Different Kind Of Human" as the soundtrack while reading Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" merged the two works into a cohesive pop culture experience, enhancing the book's and the album's ... read more

In preparation for reviewing Judas Priest's latest LP, I delved back many years to visit the band's most iconic albums and songs. Remarkably, this marks the band's fifty-fifth year in existence. The fact that they continue to perform at such a high caliber and produce new songs that rival their classic hits from decades ago is truly impressive.

On this album, there's no need to worry about aging rockers struggling to recapture youthful energy. Instead, listeners will discover seasoned artists ... read more

As someone entirely new to Judas Priest, I decided to ease myself into their music before diving into their latest highly-rated album. Live concert albums serve as an excellent gateway into a band's repertoire, capturing their most captivating performances and breathing new life into their songs. Despite the controversy surrounding Judas Priest's release, including allegations of vocal overdubs and accusations of studio manipulation, it is widely regarded as one of the finest live heavy-metal ... read more

GANGSTA, GANGSTA-GANGSTA! GANGSTA, GANGSTA-GANGSTA, Q!

After the release of CrasH Talk in 2019, I found myself in a bit of a quandary, questioning whether Q could deliver something remarkable once again. However, this latest tape showcases a departure from his previous works, signaling a positive evolution. Q ventures into new territory, embracing a more ambitious and dare I say, jazzy direction. Yet, it's evident that he hasn't entirely abandoned his roots in the gritty, gangsta style that ... read more