I have been terribly late getting to this review, by over 7 months if my count is right. I must have sat down to try and write this at least 4 times, listening to the album each time but somehow I never had the time to verbalize my thoughts fully, till now anyways. This is a beautiful, moving Jazz/Post-Rock album from Chile. This is the second album recommended to me by AndreZXO, and once again, they reveal their phenomenal taste. The sound flows from slow and intimate to emphatic, grasping ... read more

An eclectic K-Pop album from NMIXX. I was very excited for this album after the success of the Fe3O4 trilogy, especially Forward, and the infectiousness of SPINNIN' ON IT. Indeed, this is a very strong album, with great performances and experimentation from NMIXX, but at the same time, it feels somewhat tame given their prior work. The title track for example just feels so basic in comparison to SPINNIN' ON IT, and there are a few other songs here that are similarly forgettable. ... read more

A lush, dreamy Pop Rap/Alt R&B album from Rich Brian. I've heard a few of Rich Brian's songs before through 88rising, but this is the first time I've listened to a full album by him, and by god does it hit. The ethereal production provides a perfect backdrop to Brian's introspective lyricism. I mean, the storytelling in Timezones is especially compelling. While a few songs are kinda forgettable, the entire atmosphere is just really pleasant to listen to. Altogether, ... read more

A gentle, delicate Baroque Pop album from Taeko Onuki. I've been criticizing Onuki for her lack of ..., but this album was surprisingly enjoyable. I still have the usual complaints, but something about the atmosphere here is genuinely soothing and refreshing. While this probably won't be something I revisit, it was a fairly good listen.

Favorite Song: RENDEZ-VOUS

A strange Singer-Songwriter/Indie Folk album. For the debut of Sufjan Stevens, I'm not really sure what I expected, but it definitely wasn't this weird affair with alternately solid songwriting and rough, honestly bizarre songs (SuperSexyWoman was somewhat vomit-inducing). I do know that Sufjan Stevens goes through many stylistic shifts throughout his career, but I hope he consolidates soon.

Favorite Song: A Winner Needs a Wand

Ayo, where the fuck witty? I was commanded to listen to this Digicore album by ayowitty, and it's alright. It's a little too glitchy/electronic for my tastes, but the slower songs like You got me in your spell are quite pleasant. Digicore is not something I usually listen to; I think my last digicore album was Lucy Bedroque's Fête de la Vanille, and that had a more melodic vibe that I appreciated. Still, this isn't a bad effort by any means: I'm simply not the ... read more

A neat, funky Plunderphonics EP that sees The Avalanches really coming into their signature sound. Electricity would of course later appear on Since I Left You, but I honestly prefer the more electronic sound here as it really sells the vibe of electricity. The other songs here aren't quite as strong, and I'm Taken is somewhat aggravating to listen to, but otherwise, this is a very good EP that foreshadows the masterwork of Since I Left You.

Favorite Song: Electricity

A magnificent, moving Post-Rock EP. The sound shifts between delicate quiet to roaring, momentous crescendos naturally, creating an atmosphere that is both epic in scale and yet almost personal. BBF3 captures this feeling with the interview of Blaise Bailey Finnegan III, who rails against the country at large. To put it simply, it is a beautiful experience. I fully understand why people say this is Godspeed You!'s best work.

Favorite Song: Moya

Largely Electronic remixes of Steve Reich’s work. There’s a review on RYM that goes “Steve Reich not found,” and I agree with them. For the most part, these remixes lose what makes Reich’s music so captivating. Additionally, some of the remixes are just doing too much, making it a rather irritable experience at times. The Eight Lines, Four Phases, and Piano Phase remixes are pretty nice though. This is just not the way to experience Reich.

Favorite Song: Piano ... read more

A rather diverse Plunderphonics/Instrumental Hip Hop EP from The Avalanches. The first two songs are very fun and playful with the predominantly Japanese vocal samples, but they can be a little discordant. The last two songs are far more mellow, with measured English vocals. I found Slow Walking to be a little sleepy, but Thank You Caroline is a beautifully relaxing closer. A great step up from El Producto.

Favorite Song: Thank You Caroline

A meandering Soft Rock album. It's fairly unremarkable aside from the new age-influenced Cosmic Moon and the irritable Cicada. There's really not that much to say here; I find myself indifferent at best to this era of Onuki's sound.

Favorite Song: Cosmic Moon

Extremely shitty Skacore. The only good thing here is that they at least sound like they're having fun, but otherwise, a really lackluster effort. Definitely wouldn't recommend.

Favorite Song: The Song That the Girl Sings

A beautiful, melancholic Midwest Emo/Post-Rock EP from American Football. The instrumentation and vocals perfectly capture this delicate, bittersweet longing, and the progression from a vocal-heavier opener to an entirely instrumental closer almost gives the sense of a person's words trailing off listlessly, which just matches the energy of the EP so well. I will say Letters and Packages feels a little forgettable at times, but besides that, this is a wonderful EP.

Favorite Song: The One ... read more

A strange, idling Post-Rock/Drone EP. The Fly Pan Am song is pleasantly dreamy, if rather monotonous, while the Godspeed You! song is largely grating, but it ends on a nice enough note. Altogether, it's a neat and entirely inessential EP.

Favorite Song: L'espace Au Sol Est Redessiné Par D'immenses Panneaux Bleus

Tatsuro Yamashita's last original album of the 90s is soft and comforting, warm like a lazy summer evening. Though it's a far cry from the sheer brightness of For You, this is still a very good showing for its time. Although the last few songs can be a little too slow, it's altogether a charming album.

Favorite Song: Fragile

A rich, moving Alt Rock/Singer-Songwriter compilation released posthumously. The incompleteness of many songs is evident in their rough, lo-fi sound, particularly on the second disc, but the entire work is suffused by Buckley's powerful vocals, filled with passionate, melancholic longing. Had he more time, it's easy to see how this could have morphed into an album rivaling Grace, but it's still a collection of great songs from one of the best voices in alt rock.

Favorite Song: ... read more

This album was recommended to me by AndreZXO, and frankly, they cooked. This is a lush, dreamy Art Rock/Neo-Psych album from a Colombian band I had never heard of till now. The language barrier is hardly an issue as the passion and emotion is evident in the singer's vocals. The instrumentation is beautifully mellow and possesses this sense of progression like with every song you're moving ever further into this journey. Though the bottom half wasn't as compelling as the top half, ... read more

A mildly ridiculous Experimental Hip Hop/Turntablism EP. While I'm not surprised that the Avalanches' first work would demonstrate the sampling prowess they're known for in Since I Left You, I am surprised it sounds like this. I'll be honest, I didn't really have fun with this. Even though the mood is clearly playful, it was rather strident to my ears. A somewhat disappointing debut, but at least I know they've a much better album in their future.

Favorite Song: ... read more

A devastating, simply apocalyptic Post-Rock album. The somber voice describing a ruined world with resignation is effectively reinforced by the despairing, mournful instrumentation, speaking to an inevitable doom that perhaps we are already experiencing. But even in this atmosphere, notes of hope poke through, sharpening in the second half to show that there is still reason for optimism. Though our doom may be certain, it is equally certain that it shall pass. All this to say, what an amazing ... read more

A mellow, relaxing Art Pop/Techno kayo album. There's not too much to say here: it's a pleasant listen but there's little to latch onto. Rain is a very beautiful closer though, I kinda wish it was raining right now, so I could appreciate it more.

Favorite Song: Rain