ElectricMess

ElectricMess

West of the Fields

Favorite Albums

Best of 2024

Recent Ratings

xaviersobased - keep it goin xav
xaviersobased
keep it goin xav
70
Mar 11
DIIV - Deceiver
DIIV
Deceiver
65
Mar 8

Pinned Review

Wilco - Cousin
90
From the moment “Infinite Surprise” opened the record in media res, presenting a ticking clock adrift on moody guitar plucking, I knew Wilco were wading back out into the deep end of their sonic sea. What follows is something of an oxymoron: a familiar adventure - one where Jeff Tweedy tries to cling desperately to the warmth of that opener’s “It’s good to be alive” mantra as he’s increasingly tempted to shut down in the face of a cruel world and ... read more

Recent Reviews

Green Day - Saviors
50
I mean it’s quite a bit better than I expected after that lead single, but bottom line I just feel like I’ve heard all of these songs before. If I wanted to hear Green Day try to remake their greatest hits with much more grating vocals, I would have gotten tickets to their tour this year.
Thirty Seconds to Mars - It's the End of the World, But It's a Beautiful Day
20
I can’t even be mad anymore. “AMERICA” was such an offensively awful trend-chaser filled with millennial whoops and half-assed trap beats that instantly dated it - true rock bottom for a group that weren’t any good to begin with. Anything after that was either going to be an improvement by default or a lateral move, but it certainly wouldn’t be surprising. “It’s the End of the World” is sort of the former, by virtue of being marginally more ... read more
The National - Laugh Track
75
The National seem to have been through something of a crisis lately. The band made no secret that the first of their two albums in 2023 immediately followed a period of writer’s block on the part of singer/songwriter Matt Berninger and for all its prettiness, it showed. There was a sense of inward retreat to much of “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” that I’m sure was necessary for the band to learn to walk again, but it didn’t exactly translate to the band’s ... read more
Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
90
“The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is an album with maddening contradictions at its heart. It embraces Americana on Mitski’s most stripped back album since her college years, but it feels like her loudest record to date. It’s home to some of the most vivid depictions of self-loathing you’re likely to hear all year, but it feels like a comforting renewal. Lastly and most crucially, “The Land Is Inhospitable” does almost nothing but grapple with the ... read more
Subsonic Eye - All Around You
80
I’m such a sucker for power pop and Subsonic Eye have been operating at a tremendous level for a while now, so this was pretty much a guaranteed layup. Everything about “All Around You” is designed to envelop you: crystalline guitar patterns stunn while Nur Wahidah’s charismatic drawl sneaks hook after hook directly into your ear drums. It makes for a record whose all too short 29 minutes blow by in a whirl. By the end, I felt like they were daring me to immediately dive ... read more

Shoutbox

1w
Hey Electricmess
Congratulations on your inclusion in the new AOTY user reviews guide! One or more of your reviews are included, so I'll let you browse the list. This is an evolving list, so it will be possible to participate again. Don't forget to put a "like" and, if possible, promote this list for the benefit of all long review writers! https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/doublez/list/186157/long-review-aoty-guide/
1mo
Hey Electricmess! I'm currently creating what's known as a network graph or "Atlas" of AOTY, and someone mentioned YOU! :D To ensure the highest accuracy possible, as well as allow as many members to take part I'm asking all users mentioned if they'd like to take part as well! The following link will take you to a form if you do decide to take part: https://forms.gle/FjrJiKqLF1pkA4MJ6 Hope you had/have an awesome day, and thank you in advance if you do decide to contribute to the Atlas!
1mo
Awesome taste and reviews
2mo
hi electric! you’re probably the biggest Wilco fan i know of on this site so i thought you might want to check out my ranking: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/mike-drop/list/170621/wilco-ranked/
i loved your review for “Cousin.” it’s clear how much you love this band!
2mo
Hey! My project Act Tragic finally completed our sophomore album, IN THE AFTERLIFE. We have spent the last year using GarageBand on my iPad to record and mix this record, so we know it isn’t professionally produced but we make due with what we have. It is influenced by indie rock, alternative rock, folk, and many more genres with influences ranging from Depeche Mode to Bright Eyes, Modest Mouse to New Order, Radiohead to Death Cab, and many more! We would love to hear your ratings and reviews of this project so we can grow as artists and keep doing what we love!

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/674442-act-tragic-in-the-afterlife.php

https://open.spotify.com/album/1j9xRTJSqJkvQYJ0ze0O7S?si=FZ8MQjFQQD2JO_2quhsw8w
3mo
Hello!!! Dear AOTY user and fellow music lover, if you are reading this message, it's because I consider you special and appreciate you being part of this incredible music-loving community. I'm here just to wish you happy holidays and celebrate this year of 2023.

Here are my three classic end-of-year lists that I always make, and I would really appreciate it if you could take a look. From the heart, marvgary <3

TOP 2K23 ALBUMS
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/marvelgaryen/list/166600/top-2k23-albums/
THE 15 BEST 2K23 SONGS
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/marvelgaryen/list/164237/the-15-best-2k23-songs/
TOP 2K23 EPS
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/marvelgaryen/list/164280/top-2k23-eps/
5mo
wooper
6mo
Get to Heaven is amazing. Anyone who has it at 100 has earned a follow from me!
11mo
Thanks for the contribution, R.E.M. is a great band
11mo
Hey ElectricMess! I’m making a list of AOTY’s favorite subgenres and I would love to hear your favorite. Just list the subgenre, pick 1 album that represents the genre, and if you feel like it write a blurb describing the genre or why you like it. Thanks!
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/cbuhrer/list/120289/aotys-favorite-sub-genres/

About

music is my savior
i was maimed by rock and roll

21. he/him. ratings are just a way to help keep track of what i’m listening to, so don’t take them too seriously! i certainly try not to!

please don’t advertise in my shoutbox

Around the Web

Rating Distribution

90-99
 
307

80-89
 
741

70-79
 
782

60-69
 
368

50-59
 
233

40-49
 
123

30-39
 
44

20-29
 
22

10-19
 
12

0-9
 
2

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Member since July 15, 2017

February Playlist