Though Notes on a Conditional Form’s cohesion is slightly all over the place, bloated and sometimes derivative, it’s still a great album with plenty of highlights and some of The 1975’s best material. The second track is post-hardcore, others are pop rock, indie rock, and even 2-step. Despite this lack of cohesion, I find it rather entertaining to see the band go from one genre to another and back again. This provides for a fun listen, even though I still wish the album was ... read more

On City Morgue Vol. 2, City Morgue shows more of a emo rap and horrorcore influence. The tracks here are also more varied than what was on their last project. The duo still brings their yelled vocals, but more guitars are used and these tracks are much more serious in tone. These are the tracks where the emo rap influence is noticeable. These tracks also occasionally see ZillaKami sing, which he is solid at. There are still trap metal bangers like on their last effort, which is nice to have ... read more

City Morgue Vol. 1 is an incredibly intense trap metal record. ZillaKami and SosMula provide yelled vocals over distorted guitars and heavy trap instrumentals. Even though City Morgue’s style can come off as slightly one-dimensional, this doesn’t bother me too much considering how brief the album is. There are also a few tracks that have less intense instrumentals than others that feel slightly underwhelming as well. Despite these critiques, this is definitely a solid trap metal ... read more

Though it’s 1980’s influence is less intense, Dedicated Side B is arguably better than Dedicated and is a great follow up to that album. Carly does tone down the 1980’s influence, but still provides for some really peppy dance-pop anthems. The production is so lively and fun and Carly’s incredibly vibrant vocals makes these tracks memorable and some of her best material to date. This album is a must listen for pop fans and it will definitely end up as one of my favorite ... read more

Though the psychedelic production is good, Gunna’s vocals are so lousy, monotonous, and boring that it’s almost sleep-inducing to sit thorough Wunna. Gunna’s flows vary little throughout this project and they are really monotonous as well. It’s almost as if Gunna follows a formula. 1. Half-ass the vocals. 2. Let the production carry, even though it can’t save the track. 3. Repeat. There are a few enjoyable tracks in the first half, but it becomes apparent around ... read more

I think Right Now is at least somewhat inspired and the horns in the instrumental makes the track pretty fun, but everything else here is really lazy and generic. This EP is just such bore to sit through despite its brief runtime. Of course it was made by a company that specializes in pornography, so it’s no surprise that it’s horrid. It’s trying to promote their site or be a cash grab. I will also mention that the artists here have lousy solo careers, so it’s almost ... read more

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately is yet another fantastic showing from Perfume Genius. The instrumentation is so beautiful and the vocals are vulnerable, yet so potent and powerful. It’s a really memorable, unique, and overall well-executed art pop album that will end up as one of my favorite records of the year.

Favorite Tracks: Whole Life, Without You, Jason, On The Floor, Your Body Changes Everything, Just a Touch, Nothing at All, One More Try, Some Dream, Borrowed Light

Least ... read more

Tape Two sees Young Fathers continue pushing their experimental hip hop and reggae/neo-soul sound as shown on their previous Tape One. In the case of this EP, it’s even more consistent than Tape One. There is more low-key, yet still intense rapping and the production is punchier and more insane. The vocals melodies are also beautiful as well. A definite improvement over Tape One and a phenomenal EP overall.

Favorite Tracks: I Heard, Come To Life, Queen Is Dead, Mr. Martyr, Way Down In ... read more

Carly Rae Jepsen delivers Dedicated, a great dance-pop record that is somewhat of a throwback to 1980’s dance-pop and even synth-pop. Carly’s vocals are beautiful and potent and the production takes influence from the aforementioned genres of the 1980’s. Though a few tracks feel underwritten or like overly basic mainstream pop to me, almost every track here is still enjoyable. A great pop album that is one of my favorites of 2019.

Favorite Tracks: Julien, No Drug Like Me, Now ... read more

On Dissimulation, Ksi proves himself to be a basic and sometimes boring auto-crooner. He’s occasionally interesting like on tracks Houdini and Domain, but he’s often bland and uninteresting vocally. Despite this, the production is solid and usually consists of strings and pianos. Though I leave this record indifferent towards it, I think Ksi has evolved artistically and that is really all you can hope for an artist at the end of the day.

Favorite Tracks: Poppin, Houdini, Domain, ... read more

Innocent Country 2 is a great follow up to the original Innocent Country and is arguably better than that record. The production from Chris Keys is fantastic, being pretty and relaxed jazz rap instrumentals throughout. Quelle Chris is great as well, bringing his unique, but really engaging vocals. Quelle includes more features than ever before on an album and this move works because I never feel that a feature underperforms. Though some tracks aren’t as great as others, Innocent Country 2 ... read more

Gil Killed Hip Hop, Pt. 1 is a short, but fun take on comedy hip hop. The lyrics are humorous and the instrumentals are simplistic, but still enjoyable. Gmcfosho proves himself to have a unique and hilarious personality here as well. Definitely listen to this if you enjoy comedy hip hop or just goofy music in general.

Favorite Tracks: Imdabes, Snacks, Rifle Burs, Charls Barkly, Comeupoutdawahta, Dem Pants

Map Of The Soul : Persona is a bland k-pop EP to me. Almost every track here feels like BTS’s take on a mainstream pop song, which is fine because they’ve done this in the past, but it’s much less engaging and much more basic and blatant here. It has its moments, but it’s a mostly uninteresting and forgettable EP.

Favorite Tracks: Intro : Persona, Jamais Vu

Least Favorite Track: Boy With Luv

The Common Task is a great math rock/post-minimalism record. The way in which the tracks here develop and flourish into something more grand and epic than originally is absolutely stunning. This album will definitely be one of my favorites of the year.

Favorite Tracks: All, except People’s Park

Least Favorite Track: People’s Park (the guitars don’t progress or develop, unlike instruments on other tracks, but it’s still solid)

Peaceful as Hell will most likely go down as the most eccentric and chaotic albums of 2020. This album is the epitome of unpredictable. Some moments here can be uncompromising, harsh, and relentless, others can be pretty and sweet. The production can be heavy and intense, but also beautiful and atmospheric simultaneously. There is use of synths, potent percussion, pianos, guitars, and even distortion, all of which creates much of the craziness on the record. The vocals are often auto-tuned and ... read more

Though High Off Life is slightly bloated like many other hip hop projects this year, it’s still an enjoyable trap record that has more than a handful of highlights. There are a few tracks where I wish Future was more energetic or more interesting vocally, but much of the material here is still solid. The production is spacey and trap influenced, and Future brings his quirky, high-pitched, and sometimes auto-tuned vocal delivery, with some fast flows. Many of the features make solid ... read more

How I’m Feeling Now is much more industrial and hectic than her previous works, but this change of pace for Charli works out well. Charli works in the showy and unique pop style that was so great on her self-titled album last year, but tones down the mainstream appeal. There is some experimentation with genres like deconstructed club and bubblegum bass and the result is fantastic. Charli has some emotional writing on here as well, often about love and relationships. It’s a great pop ... read more

Though it has solid moments, Shadow Of Life often feels like an underwhelming death metal record. There are many moments where I’m bored across the album. I just feel like much of what is done on this album is extremely basic to where it isn’t enjoyable. Much of the time the instrumentation will go for a certain sound too long and before the next progression, I’m already tired of the track. There are still many highlights here, but half of the material is boring or ... read more

Tape One is a unique EP that fuses elements of experimental hip hop and reggae. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard before and it’s mostly solid. From the incredible vocal melodies on Deadline, to the catchy percussion and reggae vocals on Sister, there are some great moments here. Though the tracks after the first three aren’t as enjoyable as the first three, I still enjoy much of the material here. A decent EP that showed what greatness awaited Young Fathers later in ... read more

I understand the acclaim surrounding this record, but it just doesn’t compare at all to the work of other post-punk acts like IDLES and Parquet Courts. The instrumentation is really charismatic and to me can carry this project at points. The vocals, while sometimes energetic and intense, are often not as memorable or gratifying as the vocals of the frontmen of IDLES or Parquet Courts. The track Hurricane Laughter especially irritates me because the instrumentation is so fun and catchy, ... read more