Pokeshulk

Audio... again... but even more inferior...

At least there's no weird vocal songs on this one, but these guys came back from a 13 year studio album hiatus to just drop more of the same, but somehow with less of an edge. It's a return to the percussive, post-rock sonic palette of Audio, alongside some pieces that seem inspired by the poppier narrated works on The Complex ("3 to 1" and "Robots"), but ultimately just retreading both without adding anything new. Not ... read more

Audio, but if it were less interesting in every conceivable way.

On The Complex, the Blue Man Group seem to be facing an identity crisis. Save for quite literally the two best songs on the record ("Above" and hidden track "Mandelbrot No. 4"), the hyper-rhythmic, droning, instrumental post-rock stylings are completely missing. Instead, our blue friends find themselves using those percussive textures in service of a variety of vocal pop-rock songs. Some fare well ("Up ... read more

Apologies for the incoming pretension (I'm unfortunately self-aware of how this is going to come off):

Blue Man Group's Audio is an incredibly underappreciated post-rock record with some of the most mesmerizing percussion arrangements I've ever heard in my life. The wizardry performed with PVC pipes, bundles of cables, cimbalom, broken bass strings, and Chapman stick on this record is genuinely brain-melting. There's some fascinating, striking guitar work here as well, ... read more

Deeply pleasant little record that has Billy and co. playing things super lowkey and riding out on pure vibes. Chiller of a record, worth a listen if you can seek deep enough in your soul. Not really a lot to say about it - just consistently very solid. At it's best, a sleek, jangly, 60's pop throwback. At its absolute worst, merely very plain (though not uninspired).

Final Rating: 83/100
Best Tracks: "Story For Another Day," "Burr," "MaryQ"
Worst ... read more