rydersblock

I think it's one thing to simply call an album influential and another thing to actually speak on the quality of that album in isolation. So, instead of labeling this record a classic and listing off the many later acts and projects that it inspired, let me just gush about this album as it is. Great googly moogly, this is one of the most warm and comforting albums of all time. The inviting arrangements of guitars, strings, and feather-light vocals on 'Something' and the ... read more

I enjoyed MatC's past projects for their lush, nature-bound, ambient soundscapes. This album does something a bit different by incorporating these psychedelic and shoegazey tendencies on top of this pre-existing ambient sound. This comes in the form of brash yet delicate guitars on tracks like 'joseph' and 'greg' (yeah, all of the song titles are white dude names). I actually enjoy this combination of influences quite a bit, like on 'joseph', for example, ... read more

Even considering Little Simz's very impressive and vulnerable lineup of past projects, this newest album from her may just be her most personal yet. The exploration of themes such as relationships with friends, family dynamics, and artistic motivation makes this such a genuine and heartfelt record. On top of this, the album sounds great, with some smooth, soulful jams such as 'Only' and 'Free' and some lush, sinister bangers like 'Flood' and 'Lion'. ... read more

I've unfortunately never been in love with a Conan Gray album. On this record in particular, I can at least appreciate the commitment to the theatrical angle that Conan takes in making these songs sound larger than life. However, on key tracks, this big, orchestral sound palette combined with the pop sensibilities sounds like this kind of movie trailer bait. Tracks like 'This Song' and 'Vodka Cranberry' suffer from this and it makes it hard for me to put any emotional ... read more