Solid album that kinda blends into the background for me, especially in the latter half. Vocals are a highlight, drums are pretty good. I like the little reggae breakdown in Judgement (& Punishment), but that's certainly low-hanging fruit and doesn't necessarily blend well within the song. I've restarted this album two or three different times in attempts to really dig in on a review, but the instrumental arrangements are unremarkable to me...definitely not a bad album by ... read more
Totally unremarkable bland radio country rock. Nothing to see here, folks.
The Red Clay Strays are a few degrees off from being a rather straightforward southern rock band. Those few degrees are important. The degrees off can trend both directions, on some songs everything clicks and they kick some ass, but go a few degrees the other direction and they sound like bad Stapleton. Fortunately they hit more than they miss, and a few times they don't do either...and well, they sound like a rather straightforward southern rock band. It's a toss up album for ... read more
I found this album in a used CD bin for 3.99 in 2001. Best 3.99 I've spent on an album. In fact, I wore the first CD out around 2007 or so and had to track down a duplicate (and I spent considerably more on the replacement given the scarcity of people who bought it at release). The problem with this album is that it cannot be classified cleanly in any genre. Is it alternative? yep, nu metal? yep. ska? a bit. rock and roll? definitely. This is an album that fits perfectly in the late ... read more
I lost so many brain cells listening to this shit. There's going to be a song on here that hits #1 on the country charts, isn't there? FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK me.
Damn it. I didn't want to like this album as much as I did. I've never heard Mister Misery before. Before throwing this on I checked out some info on them and ran across a band photo of them in full goth makeup and thought "OK cool, this should be a quick listen, this has all the markings of an over-theatrical, under-talented group of musicians that simply parrot other 'real' metal bands." That impression was shattered almost immediately, and then I spent the next ... read more
Perfect road trip music. 49 Winchester is consistently good, so consistent it sometimes borders on monotony. But this is light music for me, great to put on in the background, soak in the salt of the earth sound, and chill out. My wife pointed out that most of their songs involve either wanting to leaving home, or being somewhere else and wishing they were back at home. This is an accurate statement. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the lyrics are definitely a well-trodden theme. But what can I ... read more
I like Orville Peck. Loved Bronco (was close to my AOTY). Some tracks are standouts here for sure. Problem is the overall tone of the album is so uneven, going from Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other (a fantastic shitpost provocative song) to generic, sappy songs like Ever You're Gone and How Far Will We Take It? Such an uneven album tone is more along the lines of a soundtrack, or compilation album...it doesn't work for an LP. Since this is AOTY, that's gotta ... read more
Sully Erna is a badass on this album, and his solo album. It's really unfortunate that Godsmack drifted further away from alternative and into full butt rock by the end. This album, however, is Godsmack's version of Jar of Flies. No, it's not as good as that EP, but it is good nonetheless. Worth the 29 minute commitment.
So many metal samples. Fucking love it! Either on or off the drugs is sublime. Great contrast throughout the album. More detailed review coming after a few more rotations.
This is my absolute favorite Megadeth album (maybe tied with Youthanasia). t there's something to the slower tempo songs that let the music breathe, which conveys a resonant emotional tone that hits for me more than prior (or future) albums. I get that the thrash purists would hate on this though, but this hit the shelves right at a perfect time in my life so the personal meaning is probably what drives this for me.
This shit is fire on first listen, especially the last song which is face-meltingly awesome. Need some time to see if it holds up on repeated listens, but I'm liking it so far.
It's amazing to me that these guys had an album release concert in the middle of a Baltimore city park for free, and ended the year with the AOTY (I'm really pissed that I missed that show, TBH). I'm happy Turnstile took off in 2021. This album is on a separate tier from most other punk albums. It is transformative to be sure. The only real gripe I have, and it is a minor one, is that the album is kind of a blur to me. No single track really stands out to me, but I love every ... read more
Just not feeling it...seems kinda cookie cutter radio rock. I am actually surprised this is getting such high ratings on AOTY.
This album is pure raw energy from start to finish. The mix of thrash with elements from traditional Togolese music reminds me of sepultura but they've successfully fused other elements from more modern metal to create a uniquely energetic and significant sound. I've been smiling all day as I put this album on repeat. This for sure is going to be up there with my favorite albums of the year. It is somehow genuine, raw, powerful, angry and meditative at the same time.
I don't mean to pile on but, I mean, she missed the mark on Every. Single. Level. with this song/EP. Like, worst decision-tree I've seen in quite a while.
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Recent Review Comments
On Systematic - Somewhere in Between
"@llamaqwerty feel like it's pretty generic metal. Weak nu metal i guess. I saw these guys open for good bands a bunch back in the day and they never impressed me all that much, so went with the most generic typology i could think of at the time i reviewed it."
On By Storm - My Ghosts Go Ghost
"@OnsPascal Everyone digests music differently. Like I said, I respect the artistic merit here, just not for me, probably for the exact reason that you provide here. Doesn't mean I shouldn't share my thoughts."
On HomeSession3's review of Soen - Reliance
"@HomeSession3 nice review. Agree on a lot of points, and I like the straightforward alt-metal sound, but found it a bit conservative given their talent. I wish they would lean just a bit more into their prog roots and juice the instrumentals a bit."
On Systematic - Somewhere in Between
"@Kendrickgoatedg they were contemporaries... but yeah, pretty close in sound. I think they were trying to hit a nu metal version of soundgarden. Maybe a bit better musically but a bit generic."
On Hayley Williams - EGO
"@Killuah K Stan"
On DJ-SLIM's review of Norman North - Over the Influence
"LOL I almost added this last Friday but felt the same way."
On Bugeater_'s review of Squid - Cowards
"Agree 💯. The Narrator is still stuck in my head, nothing from this album is anywhere near as innovative and has the ear candy that the first album had."
On Orgone - Pleroma
"@Pangota72 💯 more people need to appreciate this masterpiece. 6 months in and it only keeps growing on me."
On Ethel Cain - Perverts
"Makes more sense re Dr. Luke. That dude ruins everything."
On Andwella - World's End
"@parannemi Thanks! It's airways fun stumbling on an old hidden gem like this album. I felt like it needed someone to pay homage."
On Alkymist - UnnDerr
"@chemjay300 even their tiny cookies are awesome."
On NTTR's review of VOLA - Friend of a Phantom
"You were spot on with the similar bands! Maybe a little Soen in there as well."
On Godspeed You! Black Emperor - "NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD"
"@Zackhy the last three minutes were awesome! I get that layering sounds too create the end stage of each song is a process and I respect that. I'm sure that my opinion would change drastically after seeing them live."
On 40 Watt Sun - Little Weight
"@Doofy Fair point. I will leave this one in the rotation for a bit to see if it grows on me."
On Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild God
"@leoxmi You're right, I should. My favorite Nick Cave song is the Passenger off the Batman Forever soundtrack...I'll check out some of the early/mid-90s albums."
On Orville Peck - Stampede
"@dasturbo totally agree. With the right manager he could end up a legend in alt country. Just needs to steer clear of all the pop country industry nonsense."
On The Marías - Submarine
"🤷♂️ I didn't expect to be a citric but I'm not feeling this one."
On Maggie Lindemann - HEADSPLIT
"Cool. I'm going to have to check out the first two albums. Thanks!"
On DiceBloke's review of (Hed) P.E. - DETOX
"the self-titled album is much better. The lyrics are still a liability but the music has a lot more originality and funk to it. There were some good musicians in the original line-up, but they're all gone by now. It is tough to put the self-titled album in any one genre, but this album is kind of a one-trick pony."
On DiceBloke's review of (Hed) P.E. - DETOX
"Lyrics have been a problem with this band for its whole existence."
On Inherus - Beholden
"I have to be honest with you, XsVrits...I don't know what you're trying to convey with your statement here."
On The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony
"Yeah, maybe t's not so much the harmonies as it is the actual lead vocals remind me of a mix of weird Al and Tiny Tim. The harmonies are actually decent, but that only exacerbates the weak lead vocals. Maybe that's my issue with it. I don't know, every time I turn this on to try to analyze it I just get a visceral reaction to something in the vocals."
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