Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois is… more than worth the 74 minutes
Concerning The UFO Sighting was like a brisk walk in the business district at 5am, watching all of the stores open, the sky is a pale light blue, ready for the sun. In my head, the person walking in this narrative did an all-nighter, after drinking the pervious hours and needed fresh air. Come On! Feel The Illinoise! didn’t pick up for me fully until the vocals were more prominent, I like the instrumentation, but ... read more
What You Waiting For begins with a piano intro that subdues your expectations of the vibe early and immediately after you get a Retro-Futuristic vibe, if the Retro was the early 2000’s. I liiike Rich Girl; it’s catchy, Eve has a memorable verse, it’s alright. Hollaback Girl… great beat, good hook. Even when I’m iffy on Gwen’s infliction, the B-A-N-A-N-A-S moment is too iconic. Cool is the best song on the album. Something about Gwen’s vocal melody gave ... read more
Saosin’s Translating The Name is a very good entry point for new listeners of the emo, screamo side of rock music.
Translating The Name begins with two very strong songs in Seven Years and Translating The Name, the former being more emphasis on emo, the latter being more post-hardcore. 3rd Measurement In C continues that mall emo mixed with post-hardcore goodness, and probably has some of my favorite vocal melodies on the EP. It’s clear how much bands like Static Dress, If I Die ... read more
I should preface with saying, that THIS was one of my first albums as a kid, so the entire early 50 Cent/G-Unit run is very nostalgic for me… okay.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ starts with a solid intro in What Up Gangsta; pretty okay song with a catchy hook. Patiently Waiting has one of the album’s best instrumentals, the hook is fine, Eminem and 50 Cent trade solid verses. Then we get to Many Men… really good; love the way the hook and the instrumental pair even if the ... read more
Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf is quite the gratifying experience.
The album begins with an nearly inaudible opening track, save it for the low end bass, trying in nicely with the actual track name, and immediately START THE CAR, and we’re driving to insane levels of alternative rock nearly alternative metal chaotic goodness, after that? The album’s catchiest song. You’re spoiled from the get go. Song For The Dead; what an intro, the type of song you should ... read more
Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane is an anomaly in the band’s discography; it’s pretty okay.
The singles are definitely the hits, you’ve heard them, the world has heard them; still not a whole lot of GREAT songs when it comes to the deep cuts, aside from Secret. Still pretty okay songs with certain blend of pop rock and funk. Sunday Morning in particular is such a fun song to sing along to, definitely Maroon 5’s best song on the album with a bullet. Something ... read more
Bleed American is a good album.
Bleed American is an explosive opener with some of Jim Adkins’ best vocals paired with an incredible melody. The Middle is just a classic pop punk fused alternative rock song with a pretty unsung pre-MySpace emo kid electronic moment before the final chorus. No notes. Sweetness is just pure adrenaline, how can you not bounce off the wall and jump up and down for this shit? Hear You Me is simply a pretty song, a nice little change of pace for the record. Get ... read more
Eminem’s sophomore album has all of the markings of a classic hip hop album; catchy songs, witty rapping, things from late 90’s to early 2000’s that didn’t age well. So let’s talk about some positives; the hit songs still hit hard. Stan is absolute masterclass in story-telling; easily on Eminem’s Mount Rushmore of songs. The Way I Am has Marshall at his most honest, and features some of his most impassioned vocals. Not to say he’s crooning or easy on ... read more
Absolutely excellent record. So many things I love about this… the use of genre is impeccable. The hip hop influences, the soul, the SINGING, the incredibly tasteful interludes to further the narrative of exploration and understanding of love and what we would do those we want, and how we would emphatically say, need. This album does something that I’ve never seen unless I’m missing an album that’s obvious; TWO HIDDEN TRACKS?! And they’re both… in my top ... read more
Very strong run from Bitter Sweet Symphony to Weeping Willow, and I fully understand why Lucky Man was single; strictly for the Bitter Sweet fans to get another similar song. The last 5 songs range from okay to slightly better, though I did enjoy Come On as a last hurrah song, and the hidden track is fucking weird but not good weird just… why are you here? But I digress… the orchestral sections of the songs are very cathartic and it’s an album I can see people having a very ... read more
Some of the dopest instrumentals I’ve heard on a hip hop album and the chemistry of the three mc’s is impeccable.
Really good album. The last two songs are my least favorite, but the first six song run is really good.
I took a pause on listening to this album right before Waterfall and I definitely went… uh oh is this album gonna dive down in quality and thank god it didn’t. Honestly nearly every song here is pretty good, not incredible life altering, but very enjoyable. Shoot You Down is a massive highlight.
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