Reign in Blood can come off as edgy a lot of the time, like many metal records in its time. Most of the lyrics are about violence, which comes off as a little cliche to me, but it’s undeniable that this record is amazing sonically. The instrumentation is loud and the vocals are aggressive. An innovative thrash metal record that may be slightly cliche lyrically, but that isn’t too detrimental to the album as a whole.

Favorite Tracks: Almost All

Least Favorite Track: N/A

I don’t enjoy Closer as much as Unknown Pleasures, but I still think it is a phenomenal follow-up to it. Of course this record still works with post-punk and gothic rock like its predecessor, but the atmospheres are are even darker than UP, which works very well. Ian Curtis’ vocals are even more harrowing and the instrumentation is even grittier. Overall, Closer is an unbelievable record that shows that Joy Division went out on a high note. (including only studio albums)

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Wide Awake! is a fantastic indie rock/art punk record that packs a lot into 40 minutes like interesting social lyrical matter, energetic instrumentation, and memorable vocals. Easily one of the best indie rock albums of the 2010’s.

Favorite Tracks: Violence, Before the Water Gets Too High, Almost Had to Start a Fight / In and Out of Patience, Freebird II, Normalization, Wide Awake, NYC Observation, Extinction, Tenderness

Least Favorite Track: Back to Earth (vocals come off as uninspired)

Year of the Snitch isn’t as abrasive as Bottomless Pit, but it’s arguably better. Death Grips’ hostility, ambitiousness, and creativity still shows up on the record, but with an even stronger electronic approach and it works perfectly.

Favorite Tracks: All, except Little Richard

Least Favorite Track: Little Richard (sonically and lyrically kind of awkward)

Besides a boring moment or two and Alan Styles eating his breakfast over guitars on the last track, Atom Heart Mother is a solid record that sees Pink Floyd mostly nail the psychedelic rock sound they would improve with later albums.

Favorite Tracks: Atom Heart Mother, Summer ‘68, Fat Old Sun

Least Favorite Track: Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast (again, basically just someone eating breakfast over guitars)

Despite some parts of this EP being a little annoying, but I still enjoy the creativeness and personality of the beats on here.

Favorite Tracks: Top Floor, Goooo

Least Favorite Track: Easy Easy (slightly obnoxious)

Unknown Pleasures is one of the most influential post-punk/gothic rock albums ever. The record’s eerie atmosphere is brought on by Ian Curtis’ haunting vocals and the slightly dark and heavy instrumentation. An outstanding project, that will continue to impress me and others.

Favorite Tracks: All

Least Favorite Track: N/A

I could go without Kendrick’s mainstream attempts on this record, like with tracks LOYALTY. and LOVE., I still really enjoy a majority of the material here. It certainly doesn’t match TPAB, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a really good rap record that has some of Kendrick’s best production, writing, and rapping/vocal performances.

Favorite Tracks: BLOOD., DNA., ELEMENT., FEEL., PRIDE., HUMBLE., LUST., XXX., FEAR., DUCKWORTH.

Least Favorite Track: LOVE. (a really ... read more

This compilation is just a bunch of thrown together 5 second snippets of metal tracks, but I guess it’s worth a listen considering it’s not even two minutes long.

Favorite Tracks: N/A

Least Favorite Track: N/A

Though many of the 1-2 minute tracks here aren’t great, It Is What It Is is a groovy and entertaining neo-soul record that adds to Thundercat’s solid discography.

Favorite Tracks: Innerstellar Love, I Love Louis Cole, Funny Thing, Dragonball Durag, King Of The Hill, Unrequited Love, Fair Chance

Least Favorite Track: How Sway (lyrics only consist of two words)

Since I’ve enjoyed both AAL projects, I decided to check out Nicolas Jaar’s new solo record, Cenizas, and I was heavily disappointed. Cenizas is more experimental than Nicolas usually is and I think that is detrimental to itself. I see some solid ideas, but many ultimately do not pan out. I think this record is just so boring and lifeless. There are genuinely two tracks I enjoy and that’s it. Others may have some decent aspects, but they will drag on too long or are too boring ... read more

While I don’t think My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the masterpiece some claim it to be, it is certainly a phenomenal hip hop record that has some of Kanye’s best material. The production is the best on any of Kanye’s albums to date and it also has some of the best features of any of his albums. Kanye explores mostly his fame, but other topics as well such as religion and relationships. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of my favorite Kanye West projects.

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This album is almost perfect to me. I guess I would like it to be at least three tracks longer, but Cudi and Kanye pack so much potency into just seven tracks that I don’t think I can even say it’s length hurts it. The vocal performances from Cudi are insane, Kanye brings his regularly great rapping, but it’s even more impressive here than it has been in the last few years and of course the production is unbelievable. Easily one of the best rap records of 2018 and the ... read more

Though there are a few instrumental tracks that left me wanting more, Mystic Familiar is a fun, epic, and beautiful neo-psychedelia record. The production choices are phenomenal and the vocals are soft, but pretty as well.

Favorite Tracks: Become a Mountain, Sat By A Tree, Arp I: Wide Eyed, Weeping Birch, Fell Into the Ocean, My Friend, Bumble Bee Crown King

Least Favorite Track: Arp II: Float Away (production doesn’t match the vocals well at all)

The abstract concept is executed perfectly and it holds your attention through the duration of the record. What’s even better is that clipping.’s regularly great display of experimental hip hop fits the concept perfectly as well. (Daveed’s amazing rapping/lyricism and the noisy production) An outstanding record from clipping., that I think is slightly better than CLPPNG.

Favorite Tracks: The Breach, All Black, Interlude 01 (Freestyle), Wake Up, True Believer, Long Way Away ... read more

clipping.’s debut album, Midcity, is the first full length look at their amazingly intense sound that they would improve on later records.

Favorite Tracks: intro, loud, bout.that, get.it, five, bullshit, guns.up, mobb2it, killer, story, real

Least Favorite Track: outro (repeats get money for ten minutes straight)

Wriggle is another great experimental hip hop showing form clipping.

Favorite Tracks: Intro, Shooter, Back Up, Wriggle

Least Favorite Track: Our Time (can be really awkward at points)

I do enjoy the first album, which is the live album, but the studio album (second album) is really messy. Most of it consists of instrumentals, though there is the occasional part where there is vocals and these parts are really the only enjoyment I have from this second album. Asides from the vocal parts, the instrumental cuts are boring or obnoxious, which hurts the already weak cohesion this side of the album had in the first place. Based on my thoughts of Ummagumma, I consider it to be the ... read more

Though it can be tedious, South London Boroughs is an enjoyable EP by Burial.

Favorite Tracks: Night Train, Broken Home

Least Favorite Track: South London Boroughs (slightly tedious)

On their previous two albums, Pink Floyd had some boring moments, but a majority of the tracks were solid and not uninteresting. With More, there are plenty of boring and uninteresting tracks. This is probably because it is a movie soundtrack, but it’s still boring. The first two tracks are impressive and that’s about it. Easily Pink Floyd’s most forgettable work.

Favorite Tracks: Cirrus Minor, The Nile Song, Some parts of Cymbaline, Some parts of Ibiza Bar

Least Favorite ... read more