One of my all-time favorite concept albums, need to listen from beginning to end (don't worry, it is short).

"Country Girl" is one of my favorite songs so far this year, so I was hyped for this release. The album, however, underwhelms with some pretty dull tracks and an attempt at dark humor that does not land like in "Red Rocket." "Emptiness is Everywhere" and "Same but Different Now" are decent, but beyond adding those three tracks to a playlist, I don't see myself revisiting this album regularly.

After collaborating with one of my favorite artists, "Midwife," I thought I would give Jencik's work a listen. I understand how his style complements Midwife, but on its own, it doesn't do it as much for me. Some interesting, ethereal, and unsettling aural landscapes that sit between ambient and noise, but nothing that stands out as truly unique.

Did I only check out this album because the band name reminded me of how great "The Dead Texan" is, and not a day goes by when I'm not upset that their masterpiece of a self-titled album is their only release? The answer is yes.

Despite not living up to my unrealistic expectations, this rock/ambient album has some great moments of bliss and has made its way into my regular listening rotation.

Going down the slowcore rabbit hole, this album just did not do it for me, but as the only one with a rating on it ATM, I would say still give it a try if you are looking for more in the genre; I am more picky when it comes to female vocals in the genre.

I thought this was just a new Rival Console album when it popped up, but now that I realize it is a soundtrack for a game that no one will ever play, a lot of the choices here make sense. As a soundtrack, it is excellent, but this is mid Rival Consoles release otherwise. I am just glad that he got paid

New Australia is punk perfection; the rest of the album does not fare as well. Great just for an upbeat party atmosphere, but lacking substance, where I would consider it an album I would listen to on my own.

Is the album a masterpiece? Of course, it is; this is Swans we're talking about. Am I also at the point where I'm brainrotted and have an attention span that finds 20-minute tracks to be a slog? Yes, that is also true. I still prefer Swans' early work for this reason. I am glad I sat through and experienced this album and the brilliance of Gira and crew, but I can't say I loved it or will revisit it.

I find a large portion of Monkey Majik's music intolerable, but this album is pure bliss, cookie-cutter pop at its best, and one of my top guilty pleasure albums.

This is a pretty incredible return to form for Mclusky, while also feeling like a bit of an evolution of their previous work. I dig it, but this music does not resonate with me like it once did. If you are a fan, definitely check it out despite my modest rating here

Public Memory's earlier releases are worth checking out; they have a dreamy, slightly experimental quality that makes them slightly catch your attention while also working great as background. This album though... Is rough. Feeling like the most cookie-cutter trip-hop you can find, it is tough to enjoy this album beyond appreciating the vibe that trip-hop is good at capturing. Why would you not just listen to Lamb or Portishead though? Or, like I said, check out the previous albums with ... read more

The last Jenny Hval album was an example of an artist losing some of their raw appeal and uniqueness by trying to present a more "polished" version of their sound. While many did not agree, I had almost given up on Hval after "Classic Objects" for this reason. Yet, I am happy I checked this one out as it feels like a return to her early work, more poetic and chaotic, and expressing a particular vulnerability through spoken word and warbling vocals. It's not my favorite ... read more

Very stripped back dance music with floating vocals, to me it has more of an ambient vibe, which I dig. An overlooked gem for sure

Sad boy music is at its finest, and it is the perfect pairing to add to your playlist, which already includes CryWank, Sign Crushes Motorist, and Told Slant.

Their best album to date.

Ignore the lower review score; this one falls in line with a lot of the music coming out of Australia: addictive pop ballads with a bit of a cheesy edge. Think Donny Benet, Jack Ladder, or Alex Cameron. Is it perfect? No, but it is fun, especially the last track. It is worth a listen, and I'm excited to see how Keli Holiday continues to grow as an artist.

Many touted this as a continued revolution for Hval, but I felt the more refined sound was dull compared to previous works.

Primal

I originally heard about this album in Michael Tau's Extreme Music, which pointed to the purposeful, overblown sound the band experimented with. This music is scientifically loud, giving it an utterly unique sound while still delivering some catchy songs. It is easily the band's best record.

I don't think this album is terrible, but some of the singles had a lot more energy, making them more catchy and memorable—still a solid entry in modern darkwave music.