Asides from a few solid tracks, Tearless is an underwhelming deconstructed club record. The more tame tracks are too tame to where they don’t feel ambitious, are uneventful, and somewhat boring. There are still good tracks here, but I still find Tearless to be mostly underwhelming and inconsistent.

Favorite Tracks: AS Tearless, AS Acá, AS Too Late, AS Going

Least Favorite Track: AS Enter

This is better than I’m Ready mainly because the production is much more interesting and less basic, however the lyrics are as generic as usual and this EP still comes off as basic millennial pop much of the time. Unlike the last EP, I thought the title track was actually decent, though it is still basic. Essentially, Infinity is more of the same boring millennial pop from AJR, but with better instrumentation.

Favorite Track: Infinity

Least Favorite Tracks: Everything else

I’m Ready shows that AJR has always been an insufferable millennial pop group, even before infamous records like The Click and Neotheater. The lyrics are incredible basic, even for pop music and the upbeat production is extremely basic as well. The vocals initially seem fine, but then you realize that they sound like any other generic mainstream pop artist, but likely worse somehow. Take what AJR does here and then apply it to every album after this one.

Favorite Tracks: N/A

Least ... read more

Sones of Mexico is my first Son Jarocho album and I’m quite impressed by it. Setting aside the poor sound quality of this album, the performances here, both vocally and instrumental-wise, are really passionate and exciting. The strings here are fast and extremely upbeat and the vocals are sometimes harmonious, but always fun. This is a really great record, especially considering it was released in 1950 and the poor sound quality it possesses.

Favorite Tracks: All

Least Favorite Track: ... read more

YouTuber Chills decides to release a mixtape and it goes horribly wrong. Chills is known for his strange vocal delivery, however this voice of his is really solid when narrating. In the context of music, especially with the hip hop production used here, it just comes off as really awkward. So much so that I’m mad that the production was wasted on someone without songwriting or vocal talent. I would suggest that Chills stick with the narrating videos because clearly he his rap voice is ... read more

As Frank Sinatra’s first record, The Voice of Frank Sinatra is a good traditional pop project. It’s by no means revolutionary and doesn’t really compare to his later work, but there is still beautiful vocals and instrumentation throughout. Frank also does about the same thing every track as well, croon about love over pretty strings. Thankfully, this sound doesn’t become old, however I do wish there was more ambition here. Definitely not a bad start to his career, ... read more

This album is a traditional pop and doo-wop record made by a furry, sponsored by a sex toy company, and the lyricism is about the game Fallout and dildos by the sex company. Though it sounds as if this album is an utter amalgamation of random things that wouldn’t work at all together, it’s actually quite great and humorous. The songwriting is great, wether it is referencing Fallout or sigh... dildos. All jokes aside about some of the lyrical matter, Pepper Coyote is actually a ... read more

Legendary pianist Glenn Gould’s first album in 1956 saw him interpret Johann Sebastian Bach‘s Goldberg Variations. Bach: The Goldberg Variations is a mostly upbeat and just really enjoyable classical record. What is done here isn’t necessarily revolutionary or anything, but there is definitely not any missteps and everything here is still quite remarkable for classical music. Bach: The Goldberg Variations is undoubtedly one of the best classical albums of the 20th century and ... read more

Despite Redneck Shit being an obvious novelty country record, it is significantly more country than really anything you are bound to hear that is labeled country currently. Wheeler’s songwriting is unbelievably raunchy, so much to where it’s hard not be entertained. On top of that, the tracks are sonically really peppy, making the lyrics even more enjoyable. Wheeler’s vocals are really just perfect for this type of music, as his voice has a noticeable southern twang, but ... read more

Cop shows Swans’ further pushing the sound showcased on their last project, however it’s less consistent and enjoyable here. The instrumentation is much more slow, dull, and lifeless compared to Filth, which makes many tracks drag on and bore me. If there was much more progression, I would probably enjoy almost every track. Filth has little to no progression, but it didn’t need to have much progression to be enjoyable because of how exciting the instrumentals already were. ... read more

I think there is potential here, but some tracks are underwhelming or overly experimental to where they are not enjoyable. However, songs such as Sorry and Tear Me Apart are really solid and I love the somewhat eerie vibe these two tracks give off. Definitely not a bad album, but the sometimes experimental route taken sometimes is not rewarding and other tracks just underwhelm me.

Favorite Tracks: Jumpstart (Introduction), Sorry, Tear Me Apart, Camouflage

Least Favorite Track: Lampshades Are ... read more

Before Ja Rule was making mainstream r&b hits briefly during the early 2000’s, he was able to get a contract on Def Jam Recordings thanks to the help of his friend, Irv Gotti. Ja would make several features on other tracks, before releasing his debut record in 1999, titled Venni Vetti Vecci. This project has little to no r&b elements unlike his 2000’s work and is very aggressive. Ja basically started his career by making primarily hardcore hip hop and gangster rap, which is ... read more

Nails do what they do best on Obscene Humanity, provide a very brief, but intense dose of powerviolence. It’s not their most intense release or anything, but it is still a really solid EP that leaves an impact.

Favorite Tracks: Obscene Humanity, Confront Them,

Least Favorite Tracks: Lies

Pithecanthropus Erectus is a stunning jazz record. The album has a very cozy and inviting vibe, comparable to you enjoying spending time with family on a holiday late at night. It’s mostly laid-back, but there are more than a few hectic, avant-garde moments. This is definitely a fantastic jazz project and it was really forward-thinking considering it was released in 1956.

Favorite Tracks: All

Least Favorite Track: N/A

The College Dropout is easily one of the best hip hop debut records of all time. Kanye’s pitched-up, soul sampled production is absolutely stunning and pioneered the chipmunk soul style. Tracks like School Spirit and Two Words are good examples of tracks that are chipmunk soul in style and have pretty production, but tracks like Jesus Walks and The New Workout Plan have more showy and grand production. Kanye writes about religion, racism, family and many more engaging topics. The features ... read more

Insane Clown Posse is easily one of the most hated acts in hip hop history. Considering this, I decided to listen to their debut record, Carnival of Carnage, to see if ICP is as unlikable as everyone makes them out to be. As it turns out, I find this album to be extremely enjoyable and fun. Now this doesn’t mean that ICP’s later works are automatically good just because I find this album great, but it’s highly likely that they are solid and that I will enjoy them as well. ICP ... read more

I find Knocked Loose’s debut record, Laugh Tracks, to be a monotonous and basic metalcore album. I love the aggression displayed on this project, but it’s too bad that the sound of this album isn’t varied. The first two tracks are great, but the rest of the album does the exact same things done on those two tracks and maintains almost the exact same instrumentation. Besides the first two tracks and some aggressive vocal performances, Laugh Tracks isn’t worth listening ... read more

This isn’t bad considering it’s length, but it’s not humorous at all. It’s just random audio snippets that have Begt saying the song title of almost every track. It’s similar to the Earache album, but significantly less enjoyable.

Favorite Tracks: N/A

Least Favorite Tracks: All

This is basically an extremely monotonous voice saying unintelligible things over boring, futuristic vaporwave inspired instrumentals. The occasional rhythm or groove may catch my attention, but not enough of them are present for this album to be good or consistently interesting. Not to mention that every track is essentially the same thing as well. It’s not unbearable, but it’s very boring and dull almost the entire way through.

Favorite Tracks: No. 9, No. 12

Least Favorite ... read more

Nasir is a great project from Nas. Kanye’s production is fantastic as usual and Nas’ confident delivery and rapping is outstanding as well. Nas’ writing can be weak here or there, especially on a track like Bonjour, but it is mostly consistent throughout. Everything is a track that drags on too long and becomes quite dull, though the features and Nas still perform well. Besides my issues with those two tracks, Nasir is a great effort from Nas, though it is probably the weakest ... read more