Los Ángeles is a brilliant silhouette of a record. It takes an intelligent vocalist and musical mind to both arrange these previously performed lyrics into a capacity that drives her artistic endeavour and to apply the melodic and melancholic traits to such perfection. The repetitive themes on this album are a sight to behold: the constant invocation of daggers, the repetitive nature of death among the protagonist's loved ones, or merely death in general. It manages to encapsulate ... read more
This was a very interesting record. The instrumentals have a rather melancholic sound, very calm and gentle, but not in a timid way. It feels like a creature that lays content, a face disinterested in its surroundings, but an aggression lingers beneath the surface, ready to pounce and reveal itself should a threat establish itself. There is a lot of angst built into the instruments and the hauntingly whispered vocals from Kruger only seek to convey it with heightened accuracy. What this record ... read more
A nice, quaint pop record. Rosinkranz has some melodic vocals that feel like a gentle graze of her finger along the listener's skin. She is at her best with energetic instrumentals that support her voice, which this record begins to lack as it progresses. Most tracks certainly possess this glimmer of intimacy, as if they were performed in the silhouette of a cozy bedroom, dedicated from one lover to another. She bottles the affection quite beautifully, which displays her pedigree as a ... read more
What a tumultuous listen. I'll admit, Springs' vocal inflections and dramatized breaths were rather distracting to begin this record, and nearly curtained my interpretation of it altogether. After intensive consideration, this project is honestly rather brilliant. Her vocals become more tolerable as the record progresses, to the point when revisiting the earlier tracks isn't a chore and adds an alluring factor to her voice. This is sensible as the apple tree under the sea serves ... read more
A solid introduction for me to Brent Faiyaz. While the record lacks any real thematic depth, and at times lacks any multi-faceted sound, there are glimpses of some genuinely metaphorical and intuitive lyricism. four seasons. is a brilliant example of likening a romantic interest's emotional spontaneity to the drastic annual swings of weather while professing that his loyalty will persist through the soothing warmth and bitter cold regardless. Tracks of that design offer belief that Faiyaz ... read more
A very solid record from Demob Happy, one that begins with some quickly paced instrumentals and energetic vocals. However, the band's consistency is put to the test, and fades to an extent as the record progresses. The lack of a clear thematic focal point provides the opportunity for this album to stumble, and because of such its flaws are exacerbated even further. If the band's next work can embody a more intuitive design, with an abstract but consistent sound, improvement is ... read more
Truth be told, I've never much cared for Charli's work. The digital instrumentals in conjunction with her monotone, glitched vocals have always been more of a turn-off than something I enjoy. I've found satisfaction in some individual tracks, but an entire record has never been much of my thing. However, there were some aspects that evoked some appreciation from me nonetheless. While I have never read Wuthering Heights in its entirety, based on my surface level knowledge she does ... read more
The Warning — somehow — managed to top Queen of the Murder Scene. The band recycles some grim concepts from their debut and packages them into a much more palatable and infinitely more vivid, unique medium. This is a record that discusses the errors of society, prophesizing the aptly-named record, and offers blatant critiques of the consensus complacency at our reality. The woman in a gown with a virtual device blinding her vision depicted on the cover is metaphorical in many ... read more
The girls really outdid themselves with this one. They grappled with some mature concepts on their debut, but their second record far surpasses that. They delve into a gloomy swamp, a vat of moral and ethical decay, and they handle it with absolute grace. It isn't often that you witness a narrative record, especially not anymore, but the three sisters provide a linear plot abundant with quality and emotion. The formatting of the record is just divine, the separation into chapters that ... read more
Obviously, this is really early in their infancy (adolescence, actually), therefore they have developed and progressed in their musical prowess extensively over the nine years since their debut, their sound and even Dani's vocal techniques evolving since. Even so, there are some extremely heavy subjects being discussed on this record, a surprising amount of maturity for the girls, especially on their first album. Impressive to an extent, even if the record doesn't necessary possess a ... read more
This is Imagine Dragon's best record to date, for many reasons I have been criticizing them on past inclusions to their discography. For starters: the writing is much more abstract on this record. Sure, you have your mundane tracks such as Nice to Meet You and Don't Forget Me, which are written in a really bland manner (hence why they are the two worst songs on the album), but tracks such as Fire in These Hills and Gods Don't Pray offer glimpses into ID's songwriting that is ... read more
This is probably their worst work to date. I quite subscribe to — and enjoy — mercury as a metaphor for the ever evolving organism of the human mind, with the tribulations and trials of mental health. What the album art suggests is a sort of resurgence — a progression, if you will — into a mindset that rebounds from the errs of the human condition, as was appropriately established in the first act. That is not the case, however, and the listener experiences very similar ... read more
Might as well just pencil in a 5 next to every ID record, it seems. Although, there was a distinct progression in the band's songwriting capabilities and, finally, a thematically relevant record! It really pinches its crosshairs around the intricacies of the human condition, the twists and knots that can form in the mentality of so many, rendering a sudden maturity into the discography of Imagine Dragons, propelling it above Origins and Evolve in quality. The band explores a sort of ... read more
Another 5 for Imagine Dragons. I could continue on about their lacking thematic presence, or their inconsistency on a track-by-track basis, but my first three ID reviews have been littered with those. Honestly, there was potential for a truly introspective — on a personal and societal level — dystopian record, one that could have skyrocketed to the peak of their discography. Instead, we received a lot of fluctuation and discombobulation. The songwriting is somewhat lazy on this ... read more
With highs that soar amidst the moon and the stars, and lows that plummet beneath the molten mantle of the Earth, imagine Dragons exemplify the inconsistency that marks them as such a peculiar musical act. Individual tracks such as Whatever It Takes and I Don't Know Why are spectacular pieces of music, featuring thoughtful — even sensual, on occasion — lyricism, and unique instrumentation. However, what flows must also ebb, so it seems, and tracks such as Dancing in the Dark ... read more
Deftones' transition into shoegaze was never poor, per se, but the return to their aggressive, vicious tendencies produces one of their best records. The balance of ethereality and brutality has always been the recipe for success for the band, paired with the same symmetry in Moreno, and a real quality record is the result
Favourite Songs:
Radiant City
This Link is Dead
Ceremony
It certainly wasn't bad, but a lot of tracks were certainly repetitive, and the lyricism restricted many concepts from being developed in their entirety, which left for a rather somewhat empty listen
This was quite the unexpected treat. At times, it is rather formulaic in regard to the pop genre as a complete organism, but the vocals are quite enjoyable, abundant with the perfect amount of romantic angst and unrequited yearning to cement an emotive pattern. Honestly, the entirety of the record is overflowing with angst and affectionate heartbreak, it's clarity is vivid from the cover, and only becomes more apparent with each track — it is thematically consistent, and interesting. ... read more
This a wonderfully sensual record, one that is blistering with intimacy from the cover, to the lyrics, even to the unique sounds. Especially the vocalization sounds directly in the listener's ear, truly delightful like the source of an embrace. Some tracks become repetitive to a tedious extent, but this was a very nice introduction to a new(er) trip hop act, one that I will most certainly keep tabs on now
Favourite Songs:
Hush
Croak Dream
Desire
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Recent Review Comments
On Shayden's review of Britney Spears - In the Zone
"@Shayden That's very interesting! I had no idea George Harrison used those elements so prevalently. It's very fascinating to understand how rooted in Indian music some of his work is. You seem to know quite a bit about it, I bet you could write an article/paper on it. It would be extremely intriguing
Also, I will have to look out for those influences once I delve into Madonna's discography"
On Shayden's review of Britney Spears - In the Zone
"@Shayden Are there other artists who utilized similar elements frequently, that you can think of?"
On Shayden's review of Britney Spears - In the Zone
"I hadn't noticed the Middle Eastern influences until I saw you mention them, and now they seem very obvious. She really manages to blend it with dance pop to the utmost perfection"
On The Plague Review's review of Paul McCartney - The Boys of Dungeon Lane
"I didn't care for it much either, but gave it some grace since at this point McCartney can do whatever he pleases in his career twilight"
On Lynn's review of TX2 - End of Us
"DeathbyRomy is easily the best part of this record and that is hilarious considering she is there for like 2 minutes"
On Shayden's review of Katy Perry - Witness
"Chained to the Rhythm has often been a diamond in the rough for me within Katy Perry's discography, though I'm uncertain whether it works as intended in the grand scheme of the record, I haven't (nor do I really intend) listened"
On Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
"@Shayden Those are the two that always come to mind for me that received so much abuse at the end of the media's sword. What they experienced exceeded anything I can even think of. The media was deliberately cruel toward them, and actively perpetuated false narratives that continuously harmed them, fully cognizant of their culpability in the assault on both of them, arguably contributing to the death of Michael Jackson for one, and to the literal removal of Britney Spears' autonomy. She was eighteen on her second effort, and already writing lyrics regarding the pain that fame brought. It is absolutely terrible that so many normalized that treatment of her. She deserved so much better"
On Ninedescent's review of d4vd - WITHERED
"@Ninedescent I have been placing this (https://nomoredirectory.org/) link on my Marilyn Manson ratings. I haven't looked into any explicitly attentive to pedophilia, but I would like to believe a sexual violence helpline would be sufficient assistance"
On Ninedescent's review of d4vd - WITHERED
"I tend to agree. Review bombing strikes me as attention-seeking. "Look at me!! I'm against this person!!" The same sentiment is conveyed if one just doesn't engage with the art whatsoever. If I despise the artist I am reviewing on an ethical plane, I simply attach a link to support those who have been victims in similar instances. I am more pleased with offering that assistance, however miniscule it may be, than trying to display my apparent ethical superiority for clicks"
On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - Dangerous
"This was a project that cemented himself as a force of pure versatility. He was the King of Pop, and as you mentioned, allowed his drive for perfection to steer him down a completely foreign road. And he excelled. He allowed his morals and ethics to tackle cultural issues such as racism, "human apathy" (as you so intelligently put it), and worldwide mistreatment of the planet. It expands across such a vast array of thematic grievances, and it is superior for it. It's truly perfection. I'm very glad that you enjoyed it for the marvelous masterpiece that it is, and I am pleased to read and reply to your reviews!! You analyze them without a measurable bias, and with a willingness to allow the art to speak for itself. Simply stunning review!!"
On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - Dangerous
"DANGEROUS AT 97!!! YES!!! My absolute favourite record of all time. I adored this review!!! It really was a symbolic evolution for the King. It was his first example of completely unbridled creative control, and it is safe to say he rose to the occasion. I was extremely intrigued by your mention of the palpable paranoia that encompasses this record! It is no secret that MJ was perhaps the most paranoid person on the planet throughout his career, and its really interesting to see that terror manifest itself in a romantic context on tracks like Who is It and Dangerous, while also in the context of himself as a celebrity on tracks like Jam and Why You Wanna Trip On Me"
On Lynn's review of Neoni - How To Kill A Fairytale
"I was quite disappointed, too. Death of Daisies was really intriguing, and I felt like their songwriting progressed too. This record has some moments, but overall was more of a regression from a songwriting perspective"
On Olivia Rodrigo - the cure
"@Ciroriberi Exactly. It takes immense talent to allow the momentum to naturally gather the way she does"
On IloveApples's review of Marina Sena - Coisas Naturais
"I'm glad you found it beautiful! It was definitely a really serene ambiance that Marina Sena managed to capture — the record has only continued to grow on me since listening. It was my introduction to Latin pop, too, and what an introduction it was. There are so many gorgeous tracks on Coisas Naturais"
On realjulianj's review of Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
"It's unfortunate that the Arctic Monkeys have been on the receiving end of such harsh scrutiny on their last two records, especially when it includes some of the most riveting songwriting in the band's discography, courtesy of the one and only Alex Turner, and, in all honesty, some of the best songwriting in music itself in the last decade"
On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - You Rock My World
"Very pleased to see Invincible growing on you:) You Rock My World is absolute r&b excellence"
On GVLSCH's review of The Warning - Ego
"@josech5 lmfao cook, I have never understood why people on this site genuinely seek to review things they know they won't like. It's one thing if you go in wanting to like it and find yourself disappointed, but so many people hate review things on this site because they know they won't like it"
On ayayeboo's review of Ed O'Brien - Blue Morpho
"Same opinion here. I can take or leave Radiohead, but this is such a smooth and delicate listen"
On Dσɳ Vҽɾʂαƚιʅιƚყ's review of Olivia Rodrigo - the cure
"My thoughts exactly. I probably prefer a few other songs in her discography, but I definitely echo the idea that Drop Dead was much too middling, and that this is a much more eloquently produced song from Olivia"
On SilviaLb_234's review of The Warning - Ego
"If they release it this year it's going to be an album of the year contender for sure!"
On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - Forever, Michael
"I definitely agree that this record — and many of Michael's work in his adolescence — were plagued by this reluctance to include him in the literary process, at least not to the extent he was included on projects beginning with Off the Wall. It's no wonder everything from '79 onward is as stellar as it is when provided the context that he gained the ability to be more hands on with his own work. Great review! Also, happy birthday!"
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