Exhilarating, gloomy bliss.

If "Manning Fireworks" has one thing going for it, it is its atmosphere. Even if the songwriting isn't always as strong as it could be, even if the lyricism is quite captivating at times, it is the texture of Lenderman's voice, the guitar tones, and the drums that keep me invested in this album.

DARE I say this slaps if you ignore the fact all the songs sound the exact same?

What was my fledgling music nerd self thinking when I listened to this once in 2021, rated it a 7, and then never listened to it again?!?

"We’ve all had too much sorrow, now is the time for joy"

Through his perseverance in the face of unspeakable personal tragedy, Nick Cave has managed to construct one of the year's most sobering yet optimistic albums. Transcending rock, "Wild God" is gospel for the earthbound, offering a glimpse of sunlight to those wandering along the rolling country lanes.

After the insane heights of tracks like 'Pool Hopping' and 'Joni: LA's No. 1 Health Goth' on 2021's "Let Me Do One More", this latest album from illuminati hotties feels rather lifeless. Gone are Sarah Tudzin's bratty inflections and the raucous punk attitude, which leaves us with an album that is a lot less audacious, a lot less catchy, and a lot less unique.

Disorienting, disturbing, mysterious, and ethereal; there are a lot of words one can use to describe SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE's signature sound, which often sounds scavaged rather than curated. "YOU'LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING" is no different with its dark psychedelic sound which provides both engrossing highs as well as puzzling lows. What it lacks in consistency it makes up for with some good hooks and boundary-pushing production, which is what makes it if not one of the best ... read more

With “Romance”, Fontaines D.C. expands on the sound they’ve developed over the course of their last two albums, leading to a tracklist that encapsulates the versatility of Post-Punk as a genre.

Sabrina Carpenter has her branding down to a tee, but when stripped to their essentials most of the songs on “Short n’ Sweet” are sadly nondescript.

[92 -> 97]

[92] Expect my score to change in the future, because I'm going to have to listen to this album a lot more over the coming weeks. As of now, I know it's phenomenal. I'm just not sure HOW phenomenal it is.

[97] The simulation runs on sound. Clear sound. Distorted sound. Sound of the future. Sound of the past. Sound of the future of the past, and sound of the future shaped into sound of the past.

The simulation runs on desire. Desire for a time when you could ... read more

Post Malone's foray into country music features some strong melodies from time to time, but these songs don't get the chance to shine due to the album's bloated tracklist. Most of the songs on "F-1 Trillion" are therefore as sonically and thematically tired and cliché as the genre can get.

Brilliant in unpredictable ways, the winding passages of "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady" are as enthralling as they are rewarding.

As mellow as "Kind of Blue" often is, it is ultimately an album that is endowed with a spark of vitality. The performances here are so enthralling and so full of life that even cuts as stripped-back as 'Blue In Green' are as vibrant and exciting as some of the more high-octane jazz that's out there. It's no wonder, therefore, that this has earned the status it has.

I'm buying into the hype!!!

Crazy to think this EP is eight years old and it still sounds like the future of pop thanks to SOPHIE's visionary production skills and performances from Charli XCX that are just oozing with personality.

Sometimes a King Gizz album doesn't have to be the most technically intricate or ambitious thing in the world for it to slap ass. The pigs are truly flying to this one!

[93 -> 88]

If you thought "Smile! :D" would easily lay claim to the title of the most anthemic and eargasmic album of 2024, I have some news for you: Parannoul might just have the edge over Porter Robinson. I say this because "Sky Hundred" is electrifying throughout, with the sweet summer melodies and walls of guitar noise ascending higher and higher toward the sun. A comparison with Icarus would be fitting, if not for the fact that the wax on Parannoul's wings ... read more

"I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU" sees JPEGMAFIA release some of his most daring and exhilarating material to date, although the overall experience feels a little lacking in cohesion.

In-your-face Electropop for the chronically online.

"SMILE! :D" is as mature and heartfelt as it is electrifying, but I hadn't expected anything else from Porter Robinson.

On "When the Pawn..." Fiona Apple shows herself to be a more ferocious and mature songwriter, tackling the complexities of a relationship whilst simultaneously providing a fresh take on the piano rock of her first album.