Swans Complete Review (Part 11)

The darkest, most ominous and most disturbing, the most stunning and immersive masterpiece Swans have ever created.

'Soundtracks for the Blind' is a record that needs no introduction. It's Swans' no doubt most influential and impressing record.

At almost 2 and a half hours, 'Soundtracks for the Blind' is a movie that sucks you in, and doesn't let go. With every song, every glimpse into a different dark and disturbing scene, ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 10)

The culmination of everything Swans have done up until now, the perfected version of every song, of every instrumental and lyric.

'The Great Annihilator' combines everything good Swans have achieved up until now. The repetitive, hypnotic, incredibly immersive instrumentals meet the best of vocalizafion by both Michael and Jarboe, who also put on their best front lyrically.

Incredibly dark, mysterious, and cryptic, the record's themes share ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 9)

A rather disappointing, yet very interesting follow up to a Whight Light.

While the quality of the record isn't nearly as good as it's predecessor, both instrumentally, vocally and thematically, the truly interesting parts of 'Love of Life' doesn't lay there.

Between the very cryptic lyrics and foreboding atmosphere and the 6 mysterious skits, this record is an absolutely fascinating listen. Trying to decode Michael's very dark and ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 8)

'White Light from the Mouth of Infinity' is yet another incredible reincarnation of the band, taking a new, fascinating direction for the band.

Both thematically and instrumentally, is a quite surprising turn from 'The Burning World'.

However, this new direction couldn't jave been a better choice. As the way more rich, luscious sound, combined with the very emotional yet still mystical writing makes this album incredibly emotionally ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 7)

'The Burning World' is a somewhat lackluster follow up to a really strong record 'Children of God'.

While it's rather similar to it's perquisite album in genre, sound, lyrical and instrumental work and more or less in theme, 'The Burning World' does manage to differ from it, however, that is not to its benefit.

For the most part, this record is just fine, with some above and some below average, the record seems to have a ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 6)

On 'Children of God', Swans more or less ditch their no wave sound for a more gothic, folk wound, which is very much to their benefit.

The best words to describe this record is haunting, disturbing, and thematically heavy. The whole records centers around the dark side of religion, showcased in many disturbing different cases and looks. It displays the cult-like behavior of religion, more specifically Christianity here. Violence, manipulation, ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 5)

'Greed'.. but better.

On 'Holy Money' the style and direction is quite similar to that of 'Greed. It is a rather obvious continuation, but i don't think that's necessarily bad. As I said before, 'Greed' and 'Holy Money' differ quite strikingly from the band's other no-wave records, they're more atmospherical, with more untie ideas to spice up the record.

And on this one, unlike 'Greed', ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 4)

'Greed' is an even darker, more atmospheric, and bare-bones Swans record than it's predecessor.

The best way I could describe this album is form over function. The record is incredibly stylistic, each song is unique with a whole new and different direction. It's all gloomy, depressive, and very dark, yet very enjoyable.

But this style is also the weakness of the record. There's less of 'real' music, and many songs feel like a ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 3)

'Young God' Incorporates everything that makes Swans' no wave era so amazing. The instrumentals are heavy and disgusting, the lyrics and themes are violent and dark, Michael's vocals are grating and brutal.

The title tracks is a bit weaker than the rest, however even that is a good song, but the rest are great.

I don't have much to say, this is simply the definitive Swans no wave record.

Overall, 86/100.

Swans Complete Review (Part 2)

'Cop' is practically the direct continuation of 'Filth', so most of my takes from that can be also directed towards this record.

While the formula is mostly the same between this and the last record, it still holds up, as both records are quite short. This style is also simply just great. I'm a sucker for the heavy, no wave, noise rock style Swans had in it's early years..

Though to list some differences, 'Cop' feels more ... read more

Swans Complete Review (Part 1)

'Filth' is quite possibly the most visceral, unapologetic and straight up disgusting records I've ever heard.

The first full length Swans record is a memorable introduction the world had with Micheal Gira and the gang. Emerging from New York's No Wave scene, Swans put themselves on the map officially with 'Filth', and it's quite understandable. Whether you like it or not, this record hits you like a hammer to the face, and ... read more

A refreshingly sweet, but overall underwhelming record.

Ninajirachi's debut album is a delightful mess electronic beats and lyrics, with fun ideas and themes. Some really fun, some more serious, but always energetic and interesting.

Though that messy nature of the record also is it's biggest weakness. From fast-paced and silly songs about fucking computers to slower and way more serious songs towards the end the record feels all over the place.

And that tracks along to quality, ... read more

Unc still got it

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist team up once again to makw a worthy follow up one of the better rap albums of the decade, Alfredo, and not just succeed in doing so, they top the original.

Both Freddie and The Alchemist are at the top of their game on Alfredo 2, both of them doing what they do best.

Freddi's bars range from witty and very, very like him, all the way to some genuinely hard hitting lines. But in general the writing is very fun and laid back, and ... read more

'DOPAMINE', as uninspired and unoriginal it is, still has some of Lil Tecca's cachiest, and probably most fun material in a long time.

The highlight of the album is the production, which while it's nothing to make you cream your shorts, is surprisingly decent at times. Tecca' lyrical and vocal work over the album is surprisingly not horrendous, and makes most songs tolerable at worst and genuinely fun at best.

Shockingly, the album won't revolutionise trap, but ... read more

McKinley Dixon melts our hearts and blows our minds on album that's truly alive, on possibly the best album of these times.

McKinley Dixon lives up to his potential on "Magic, Alive!", by giving us one of the most enchanting albums I've ever heard, with truly a world of it's own into which the record pulls you in and doesn't let go.

The rich and lush soundworld and unbelievable great production genuinely floored me from the very first second. It pushes jazz rap ... read more

Miley Cyrus kicks off a new era with a surprisingly pleasant pop record, though which does not reach the height she planned it would.

Let me start off by saying that us most likely the best complete work she's ever released, and there's clearly effort put into the music. But even so, the record is not a masterpiece by any standards.

While it starts off quite strong, the record pretty quickly blends into blandness, with the second half of the record being significantly less ... read more

After 15 years of no new albums, Stereolab returns with a sweet yet underwhelming project in "Instant Holograms on Metal Film".

With some funky and enjoyable instrumentals, pretty vocals, interesting topics and somewhat meaningful songs this record should be a strong return for the band.. and yet it's anything but.

The project lacks serious creativity and bravery to open to new sounds and ideas, to explore and do something unique. The bored and tired formula of the songs gets ... read more

'LETHAL' is a rollercoaster, emotionally, creatively and also in terms of quality.

Rico Nasty's latest record is having a bit of an identity crisis, as the record jumps between very carti reminiscent rage trap, trap metal, and also pop rap for some reason. And somehow.. kinda succeeds at all of it?

Now, this is not a great record, by any stretch of the imagination. The hard cuts between all the vastly different parts and types of songs on this album is pretty disorienting, ... read more

"I Don't Want to See You in Heaven" is a messy record, with good ideas but lackluster execution.

For the most part, The Callous Daoboys' new record is fine, with some pretty standard metal/mathcore sound. Nothing earth shattering, but fine. But then, many times on the record, the mood and tone shifts, into more quiet, softer and mellow sound, both instrumentally and vocally.

And usually, theoretically this should be good, but it doesn't translate well. Either ... read more

After over two decades, mclusky returns with a brave and bold, but quite underwhelming record.

"the world is still here and so are we" is loud, unapologetic and very sassy, but it's heavily weighed down by questionable vocal performaces, repetitive and bland instrumentals and the lack of diversity.

The album definitely has high points, "people person" and "chekhov's guns" are both good, or maybe even great songs, but these are few and far between, and ... read more