(Original score: 80/100; 3/28/2023. no review, thought it was solid and Back 2 The Base was an exceptional track)
New score: 100; 3/28/2025.

After hearing Los Angeles from X for the first time, in March of 2023, I was eager and quick to jump on to their predecessor, Wild Gift. I chocked it off as a great album, some songs here and there that ran on a bit (Universal Corner, Beyond and Back) but a good experience that still didn't top their debut. After a modern relisten, I felt I was sort ... read more

Do you read me? I'm not speaking..

In the atmospheric NY circle timepiece of the jagged, the standard no wave, and the avant-garde, Sonic Youth strived away from their peers. Recorded over 2 6-hour sessions between the 11th and 12th of December 1981, the band's debut EP displays a standard post-punk presentation and performance, rather than the noisy, nihilistic ideal the band would shift to in their coming years.

Exist are highlights like "The Burning Spear", highlighting ... read more

16 of the same exact generic radio song. Nothing interesting here at all, it's just HGTV soccer mom fodder.

Even through the constant employing of doo-wop stylings, contemporary pop stereotypes, and "Billboard hit factory" over-polished production of string and choir vocal arrangements, this album just expands Trainor's one notable celebrity status: Being a one-trick pony. I wasn't able to even pinpoint a big moment I preferred the most out of this. Maybe the closer? ... read more

As a critical theorist in the field of bad choices, I assure you that I am "not" getting off the "internet".

For a debut album, it's a rather strong start essentially. Tracks are sometimes a center point of what Nate can do, and sometimes just a background for his what rather inexplicable features provide (trust me; I still enjoy a few of those) That makes it a bit of a jumper in presentation, you'd never really expect a sporadic mash of dubstep and hyperpop from ... read more

Pure white noise, yay!

The Minutemen formed, well, sort of threw themselves together in January of 1980. This EP features 5 demo tracks recorded in March '80 with their original drummer Frank Tonche who left 3 months later, replaced by George Hurley, who played on the band's remaining stuff, hence this EP being "Georgeless".

Now, in the terms of music. This isn't bold. Recorded direct to cassette at Tonche's house, the sound quality isn't great. Besides ... read more

Konkurrent (that silly Dutch label who did some European imports; I only really know them for some Negazione and Victims Family stuff) had an idea one day for a label series; "In The Fishtank" they called it, in which they give bands 2-3 days of studio recording time, allowing them to do whatever they wanted; real recordings, or chair-tossing and synth-smashing "experimental" improvisation. Their first band was Nomeansno, grabbing them during their June '96 Europe tour ... read more

The Salty Tang is a haunting, underlooked masterpiece, represented in a artsy, noisy, and very catchy pop landscape.

Earth-shattering and splashing out of all ends is the artful nature of this record. Fusing stylings of avant-pop and sea shanties, The Salty Tang is brash, tight, and sometimes chaotic. Instrumental wise that is, as the cherry on top is the warped lyrics and pop sensibilities delivered by vocalist Leah Callahan, and the artsy sound of this album is amplified with the sinister ... read more

The amount of old, long forgotten records of the past lies in an amount unbelievably large. There are too many hidden gem albums that were simply swept under the rug due to either lack of promotion, falling back on independence, or lack of funding. This is one of those albums.

"You In Black & White" holds songs strong enough to explode onto the mainstream. Track by track, the record holds amazing songwriting, performance, and production. Ranging from radio pop hooks to laid-back ... read more

Short, sweet, simple, and stylish is Broadcast. Bluco offers a track by track delight across, be it the heavenly sound and glossy production of the title track "Broadcast", the poppy sensibilities of "Childhood Friend" or the masterfully written closer "Lost Generation", it's guaranteed to act as a great demonstration on what would play on the radio of a cloudy island in the sun.

Favorite track: Childhood Friend

A record only really known for it's status as a strikingly accurate Yes knockoff. Besides that, Starcastle's self titled debut is quite a glistening, lush, and symphonic experience with quite startling production for 1976. Front to back, Starcastle sure hosts a wide variety of ideas, but the band's direct influences fall flat at only seeming to run off one particular band, and most of those "wide variety of ideas" don't hold up to be much interesting.

Favorite ... read more

Technological Mythic Limbo is very much an album. A jarring, senseless one at that.

The direction on this album ranges from masterfully crafted experimental jazz (Technological Mythic Limbo, Sword, Fuse) to hulking, jagged improvisation (Didus Ineptus, Mastadon). Long gone are the days of catchy, simple jazz-infused punk from the band, replaced with a self-aware, wandering sound that leaves an impact long after it's done. Goofy, avant-garde, and drawn-out are great ways to describe this ... read more

Mili's "To Kill A Living Book" displays melodic and sometimes energetic orchestral passages backed with Cassie Wei's timid, quirky vocals. Each track shares a great flash of light into the group's technique and sound, which ranges from easy-listening art pop (Poems of a Machine, Gone Angels) to high energy, swing-inspired tracks (String Theocracy).

Favorite tracks: String Theocracy, Children of the City (10/10)

Jumpy post-punk with a melodic, indie twist. The laid-back mood on this album along with Перемотка's great array of gloomy songwriting, instrumentation and cleanly produced tracks paint this record.

Favorite track: Просвет (10/10)

Seven delicate, sweet and simple piano ballads topped with a case of something nobody was expecting buying this record in 1966. As much as an easy and relaxing listening experience the latter songs are, nothing could top the influence and atmosphere of "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair", as hilarious as the track might sound.

Favorite track: Black Is The Color, Moon, Don't Come Up Tonight (10/10)

Filthy pigsty of a hardcore album. Across the board, "Black Tongue Speaks" is rather chaotic, with sparse breathing room between each jazzy, but hulking track. AOG continue to get more out of focus with their influences, shown on tracks like the classic rock "Cowbell Rock" and the folk singer-songwriter style of "UFO's". Recommended to fans of Nomeansno and The Cows.

Favorite tracks: I Am My Disease, Cowbell Rock, UFO's (10/10)
Least favorite: Be ... read more

"Donuts" is a record that explores through a variety of samples, beats, and rhythms that defy conventional structure. Each track is fresh, interesting, and different, meticulously crafted with samples of soul, jazz, funk, and everything in-between. J Dilla’s unique ability to create pieces that flow together seamlessly throughout an entire album using limited instruments and sampling sets him apart.

Favorite tracks: Waves, Don't Cry (10/10)
Least favorite: The Twister ... read more

23 interesting, jumbled, underrated messes of jazz, punk, funk, and everything in-between. There's no cohesion in this album, just a blow of everything these Dutch rockers can throw at the wall. Crowbar's influences run pretty obviously, jumping from Nomeansno styled hardcore to songs that completely channel Victims Family. A very fun listen, recommended to fans of jazzcore acts.

Favorite tracks: Candy Man, Limousines & Creditcards, Genetic Mary (10/10)
Least favorite: --> ... read more

Simple, sweet, laid-back indie pop from New Zealanders Able Tasmans. "A Cuppa Tea and a Lie Down" is a real one-and-done record, feeling minimalist and sweet, however ultimately seems to lack more interesting writing and replay-ability outside its more well-known tracks such as "What Was That Thing?" and "Little Hearts". Recommended for fans of Mental As Anything.

Favorite track: What Was That Thing? (10/10)
Least favorite: I See Now Where, Virtues Asunder (4/10)

Sea Monkee is a real rich stab of noise, fusing hardcore and even a glimmer of pop along with all of it. All 7 tracks have this noisy grunge-esque melodic style which isn't bad, but is also a real jab if you're expecting at least some variety between songs. Recommended for fans of Flipper, Big Black, Butthole Surfers.
Favorite track: Dyn-O-Mite

everything everything's "Get To Heaven" is a great collision of jumpy jagged indie rock, infectious hooks, contradicted with some real clever, nihilistic writing.

Recorded in late 2014 across many studios and released in June the following year, Get To Heaven is a real energetic record front to back, featuring tracks all with a vibrant background across. Tracks like "Get to Heaven" and "Regret" show off the group's pop radio aesthetic sound, featuring catchy ... read more