🔴 incentive, inadequate, ineffable
🟢 The other 6 tracks

What do you get when you mix a lot of Jaron musically with a little Porter Robinson narratively and a pinch of Fox Stevenson lyrically? You get something adjacent to this album, but disphing takes all that and does something all his own here. You simultaneously feel the fun behind the scenes and the depth behind the lyrics in this project. It takes a bit of a tired metaphor, coding compared to relationship, and takes it in such a ... read more

By a slight margin, didn't have as high highs or as low lows as its succeeding compilation. But overall, a fun little 15-minute collection. The lyrics are definitely just there for their own sake rather than communicating much of anything meaningful, but the production is mainly where these songs shine anyway. Probably has the strongest closer of any Exobolt compilation I've heard so far, and the opener was pretty easily the best track. Great debut for the Exobolt Worlds ... read more

🔴 HYPER THUG MARKET
🟢 The other 4 tracks

This compilation swings between refreshing bangers and run-of-the-mill sleepers. Both the color bass tracks were very creative bangers that varied nicely. Tracks 2 & 4 didn't particularly stick out to me, but they were not bad. The closer ends the compilation album and has some nice energy to it, using its plucky arpeggios smoothly. I would return to about half this compilation and really enjoy it.

Favorite: New Leaf
Least Favorite: Last ... read more

🟡 Somehow I Forgot
🟢 The other 9 tracks

Definitely a vibe I'm drawn to, in the vein of Novo Amor and Lowswimmer. The writing is simple but sweet. I do find the vocal processing not quite to my tastes, as it sounds washed out and over-airy. But it's a real chill album, so I'm really chillin'.

Favorite: Style
Least Favorite: Make It Right

🔴 Amends
🟡 Taste of Your Tongue
🟢 The other 8 tracks

A mixed bag, but better than I thought from an album that opens with a track on SABAI’s album. In fact, it’s pretty similar in style to SABAI’s album, except it does better with its similarities. I appreciate the variety Elephante brought to this album, from meldub to house to wub-wub future bass, even if some efforts were weaker than others. Ironically, the theme was clearer in this album even though it was less ... read more

🔴 Christmas Time Rhyme
🟢 The other 9 tracks

Yeah, imma have to side with the critics on this one. This is just what I want from both a Ben Folds project and a Christmas album! I’m a fan of how he writes the original tracks, and what he does with the covers is very nice as well. I connect with the album more when he writes his own material and makes it sound wintry rather than overtly Christmasy. But really, there are next to no complaints I have about the album. It’s smooth, ... read more

I found it a pretty unremarkable album, but it had some enjoyable vibes. As a rule of thumb, I liked his garage style and disliked his DnB style, which gave the album a bit of polarity. I liked several of the ideas in the garage tracks (the DnB ones seeming devoid of good ideas), and there are a couple feelzy moments. Overall, not something I’d return to, although the experience was mostly alright.

Favorite: TV DREAMS
Least Favorite: BACKBONE

🔴 maybe it's u, drive
🟢 The other 12 tracks

Really fun ride (pun intended, given the theme) through all 14 tracks. The beats have quite a bit of energy, and the melodic elements are very easy to vibe to. Doesn't *quite* have the "magic" needed to bump it up to a 75, but it is a consistently great album. Might have to keep an eye on this dude if I'm looking for some upbeat, dancey house tunes.

Favorite: lift off!
Least Favorite: start

🔴 Stargazing, Senseless
🟢 The other 19 tracks

It's difficult to make a good 21-track album. My current #1 album of the year has 16 tracks and a similar runtime, and it uses that runtime spectacularly. Just A Gent, however, didn't need to make the album this long. I would have been okay with a double album or what DROELOE did with their album from 2018-2020. That aside, there are some great songs here and some real sleepers. Although no track amazed me, no track disgusted me ... read more

🔴 tell me a story
🟢 The other 6 tracks

This album is a vibe throughout! It has its super cool moments and its slightly lulling moments, but most of the negative is redeemed with the production. Only criticisms: the vocals can get a little stale, the lyrics seem clearly improvised, and the call-and-response lyrics seem forced after a while. Other than that, sick and smooth garage/house production that gets me moving. I'm a fan!

Favorite: kaleidoscopes
Least Favorite: mayday

🔴 Heavenly Hell, 2x2, Mad, ELECTROWAVEBABY 2.0, Drive, Better Run, Get Lower
🟢 The other 11 tracks

Most of the bad ideas in this album he really leaned into. Most of the good ideas he managed to either reserve for places other than the drop or somehow make boring. And the good ideas executed well rarely wowed me. On top of that, it's clearly an album that's meant for the club rather than casual/thoughtful listening. As that's not my scene, I don't connect with it ... read more

🔴 A-frame, five minutes, good things
🟡 i miss you, terrible things
🟢 The other 6 tracks

A lot of sweet with a little bit of spice mixed in for good measure. The songwriting chops of these two are on satisfying display. This side of the indie/singer-songwriter genre tugs at me a bit more than a lot of other genres, so this album definitely leaned into its strengths in that regard. A relaxing and melancholy ride through what feels like a single, special lingering moment.

Favorite: and ... read more

I don't have much to say about this album. I enjoyed it; it served as a good background album and occasionally distracted me with some especially cool and not-so-cool choices. But most of the time, it was just consistently good.

Favorite: Afflecks Palace
Least Favorite: Tilt Shift

🔴 Been Like This, Whoops, Crushin', I Wanna Thank Me, Love On Hold, Forget How To Love, Rollin', I Don't Do Maybe, Sleepin' On Me, Hate It Here, Bestie, Doin' It All For You
🟡 To The Moon
🟢 The other 3 tracks

I think my biggest mistake was expecting to hear a bunch of Grant songs, a bunch of Ellis songs, and a Lawrence track, along with a few Meghan Trainor tracks mixed in. I don't know why I thought this; I already know producers' jobs hinge on the ... read more

🔴 Serpent King (maybe?), Masyaf
🟢 The other 3 tracks

This just didn't hit me like it seemed to for everyone else. It's an alright EP that definitely has a couple high points, but overall it was a pretty unremarkable listen. I enjoyed the listen, but I will probably forget this EP exists pretty quickly.
 
Favorite: Dustinations
Least Favorite: Babel Bug

🔴 The Emptiness Machine, Good Things Go
🟢 The other 9 tracks

Alright, not a bad album! I quite enjoyed it. This was my first Linkin Park record (I can already see the comments coming in XD ), and it delivered just what I wanted it to. It has some bangers and some forgetters, and the band works well together from vocals to instruments. Not entirely sure what point the album is making or what story it's telling, but it's some solid rock. Its musical predictability, as well, works ... read more

🔴 Fired Up, Run Up (maybe?), In the Cut
🟢 The other 7 tracks

Pros: The songs are not bad, they're in a style I like alright, they tug on my Skrillex-strings, it's a short project.
Cons: I got bored with this EP real easily, I sensed close to zero personality in these tracks, "Bad Boys" and its baffling mixing choices.
I didn't mind this EP, but I can just listen to Quest For Fire or 4EVR for some great hybrid trap. It wears its influences on its sleeve but fails ... read more

34 minutes of road-trip goodness. Sure, it might get a little samey, but it's so dancey throughout that I wouldn't have it any other way. It doesn't stay at the surface though; there's quite a bit of heart in the writing and intentionality in the melodies. Sloan has the kind of voice I rarely hear anymore, so it's refreshing to hear! Now I want to hear some more of this guy's stuff...

Favorite: Nothing Ever Does!!!
Least Favorite: Cocoon

A sweet, smooth, Silk-ready album that was satisfying after 5 years of radio silence. I always love hearing that Tut Tut Child charm applied to chiller tracks infused with so much heart. It has a couple more highs and mehs than I was expecting from a Forest Knot project, but it still manages to stay pretty consistent across the board. Overall, a pretty, pensive peek into the emotions of FK as he enters parenthood.

Favorite: Finn
Least Favorite: Weary

A microdrop-filled breakup-themed EP on Disciple was not on my 2024 bingo card for Convexity, but man did it deliver! The drop structures are unique yet tried and true. The sound design is creative. The solos are smooth. And the EP is such a fun ride front to back. Love seeing Convexity continue to get recognition in the dubstep scene as the music increases in quality with each new release.

Favorite: Phreak Week
Least Favorite: Centuries