I find this record emotionally compelling in ways I cannot explain,
it just resonates with me. It’s not impressive from a technical standpoint, but Justin Broadrick (this is a one man project), knows how to use distortion, and specific drum clangs and guitar tones to elicit thoughts and emotions. The lyrics are esoteric and surreal, and the sweet vocals compliment the harshness of the music. The sonic textures utilized on these songs are enthralling and it’s always like I am ... read more

The perfect album, and one of the best albums, EVER. It certainly is the greatest soft rock album, if you accept that term. Regardless, this album is a demonstration of great songwriting and performing. Instrumentally, there is a lot done with a little. The drumming isn’t complex, but it’s a powerful, driving force for these tracks. The guitar work is mostly simple, but the guitar leads are crisp, clean, and rocking, especially on “Go Your Own Way,” or “The ... read more

This album scored serious points for freshness. It’s probably no surprise, but the percussion is what stood out to me. Unfortunately though, nothing else did. The vocal samples are not worth noting, and in fact, I found that they detracted from the music more often than not. The electronic aspects complimented the drumming, and were probably necessary, but I didn’t find them to be that interesting either. Only the drumline-style percussion is worth remembering, in my opinion, and I ... read more

This is art. It is one of those albums that I would point to as an example of music being art. It creates moods and incites thoughts with every song. This album is dense, in the best way. The sharp guitars and drums mix with the distortion, electronics, and the poignancy of the vocal performances to create an atmosphere rivaled by few albums. It does quiet and intense equally great. It even utilizes my favorite production style at some points, the so-called “wall of sound,” and the ... read more

This is a solid album, but I believe Kendrick Lamar can and has done better. On this album, the music was less emphasized in place of pure rapping. The rapping, however, was spot on. There are multiple great vocal performances on this record, and the flow is perfect at times. The instrumentals and samples served their purpose, setting the tone for the lyrics and their content. Unlike other Kendrick Lamar records however, I really felt that it lacked his signature punch. I wouldn’t call ... read more

Classic Album. The Clash, and the music on this album, is never what I consider essential punk, but it may be essential music. It is easy to see why it so influential on other artists. The melodies on this album are fantastic, and it makes you want to move. Musically, from the singing to the strumming of the guitars to the tempos set by the drums, everything is simple, yet effective. It is fantastic performance music I am sure. The album is diverse and distinct enough. It has a clear sound, but ... read more

This is an interesting album. I absolutely love the instrumentals, the melodies and beats, and I find the samples, and the strong electronic emphasis, so interesting for an R&B album. It takes chances, it creates a rare atmosphere, and it deserves serious credit for that. However, I could not find a way to truly appreciate the vocal performances on this album. I appreciate the style of it, but I believe it just needed a few alterations to completely compliment the music. I do love the ... read more

Honestly, this album isn’t bad. In fact, it’s good, but that’s all I can say about it. There are few bad songs, and a lot of GOOD songs, but there isn’t a single great one. I would prefer an album with a few awesome tracks amongst a greater number of mediocre ones. It is varied. The vocalists are diverse, as are the instrumentals and musical styles employed on this record. I greatly appreciate that variation. It’s Hip Hop, but it stretches that pretty far. However, ... read more

I was surprised by this album. I first thought I was in for some generic hip hop that would have fit in as a new release in 2007, not just 2017, but I loved how this album always had me guessing as to what would come next. As I said, I was thinking only bling-era hip hop, but instead I got great R&B, a bit of gospel, some fresher sounding hip hop, and some electronic sounds. I loved the rapping and the singing, and the features added a lot to this album as a whole. The songs were distinct, ... read more

This is simple music, but it’s effective. It’s catchy, and it’s relatable. I love the vocal style, as it perfectly fits the guitar’s central role, and the few times it goes electric add some nice variety, as does the violin. I love that this album takes a minimalist approach, there isn’t anything outlandish at all, but it’s welcoming and comforting music. It can do melancholy and upbeat equally well. It’s an all-around solid, purely enjoyable album. ... read more

I’ll be honest, I have a hard time saying much about this album. The only thing that really stood out was the singing style of the vocalist, which I was really into, and there is a lot of soul behind in it. I did appreciate the bluesy electronic sound that it had, but it was not particularly inspired, and I felt that the song structure was mostly generic and forgettable. Bonus points for some interesting lyrics though.

Best Tracks: Velvet Gloves & Spit (1), Grifting (2), Sewer Blues ... read more

This album took a very niche electronic sound and made it great. I believe this album stands at the best example of what this weird electronic sound can do, because this album is full of songs that are moving, with their tranquil yet stimulating sound. It also does a lot with minimal notes at times. Megan James’s distinctive voice and vocal style are not outstanding one their own, but they are effective and add a great element to the music. At certain points this album fails to vary ... read more

I was expecting something dark and brooding from this album, and was surprised (pleasantly) that so much of it was bright and...danceable? I am a sucker for synths, and since this album was so heavy with this sound, I was easily drawn in. I can say that every song had a distinct sound despite a lack of diversity in instruments or musical style, which I attribute to great songwriting choices. Additionally, I appreciated the vocal style used on this album. This album surprised me. I wasn’t ... read more

This album moved me. I’m not sure where it moved me to, or why, but I know that this album captured me in a mysterious way. It certainly helps that that I could not understand the lyrics, but I appreciated what his voice added to the music, both with its natural sound and the strange electronic manipulation he used on it. The varied and experimental instrumentation was well selected and placed within the songs, and I did find this album to have a strong emotional quality to it, even if it ... read more

One of the best technical death metal albums I have heard in awhile. The vocals might benefit from some variation, but they fit the furious guitars and drumming that combine to make an impressive, crushing, and exciting metal record.

This album is decent from start to finish. Both male and female vocal performances are sharp. The quiet, minimalist guitar and bass parts are effective, and the electronic bits are great compliments. Then again, that has always been the style of this band, and in my opinion, they have done it better before, and more concisely. This album took a while to get going, and it ultimately scored much higher than I predicted when I first started listening, and indeed, it had worn out its welcome a bit ... read more

Pleasantly surprised here. I was expecting R&B, but this was ultimately much more diverse than I expected, and included influences from genres I have never heard mixed into this style. Most notably, the witch house synths and distortions were a pleasant surprise, but also the indie guitar strumming, and the soul influences. The lyrics were...funny at times but enjoyable and relatable, and I enjoyed Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar’s contributions. It might have run a tad long, but ... read more

Honestly, I was expecting more from this album. I love, love, love the unique mix of gospel vocals with the electronic, post-punk sound, but on this album, I feel like the plan was better than the execution. That doesn’t mean it never connects for me, because it definitely does, and on those tracks, Algiers are really something special. I just do not feel that they sustained it over the length of this record. There were just too many indistinguishable tracks that I’ve already ... read more

I loved the variety of tone and experimentation on this album. The album found a way to be both menacing and lovely, and it did both effectively. It went from all out epic on tracks like "Rhesus Negative" that blast you would visceral percussion, electric rhythms, and harsh vocal elements to the reflective, peaceful, and cerebral qualities found on tracks like "Hive Mind." I’m always a fan of diversity, and I felt like this album had intangible heart, and I found it ... read more

This album is enthrallingly atmospheric, and I love how the music on this record elicits thought. It is an ambient album, so I don’t believe it was intended to occupy your entire attention, but it does create mental images. At times, this album reminded me of machine, and at times, a windy forest. However, for an ambient album, that rhythmic thumping was too prominent, and it often obscured the airy tones underneath, that I wished I could hear more. I love the ethereal tones, and the ... read more