Wonderfully self indulgent and tremendously raw, Mule Variations finds Waits pushing boundaries farther than ever with some of his most severe vocal performances, lopsided instrumental arrangements and an exceedingly thorough exploration of timbre. However, while blues are a certainty in any Waits LP, some of the more straightforward, melancholy examples like Hold On, House Where Nobody Lives and Georgia Lee present as a detriment in this project more than any other. Weakening the incredible ... read more

A compilation of utterly inoffensive, generic pop singles that continue to push Gorillaz in a worrying direction. Looking at the elementary song writing, formulaic structuring and weak narratives, I can't help but wonder how the band that gave us Plastic Beach has become this uninspired.

"You drink it just like water (water)."

A valiant effort and a sure feat in production, but a lack of sonic direction, development and pacing (especially in the first half) combined with Diggs' deadpan delivery left this project disappointingly feeble.

It's subtlety that makes Loveless the masterwork it is. While production techniques transform an electric guitar into a looming cumulonimbus, it's the genius of the songwriting that envelopes you in that cloud. The melody lines here have an immediate innocence, offering linear tonal development and rhythmic simplicity, with momentum just sufficient to generate a sway. They have no where to be, as only the wind supplies their direction. The harmonic arrangements transform this idea, countering ... read more

What The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady has in ferocity, A Love Supreme has in wisdom. This incredibly impassioned piece of art takes the tonal development of Kind of Blue five steps further and the melodic innovation of The Shape of Jazz to Come another four. This work represents Coltrane's rebirth and spiritual awakening as he left his crippling heroin addiction (that had lost him his position in the Miles Davis quintet) for a truer path, guided by his renewed faith. "A Love ... read more

The OOZ is a unique experience. With meandering vocal melodies that come off almost directionless over saturated instrumental arrangements, there is a lost and wandering feeling to this LP. Don't mistake the scattered songwriting, convoluted (or incredibly sparse) instrumentation and wide mixing for a lack of creative intent. The OOZ pulls you out through a vast, unexplored ocean, allowing you to orient yourself only at its own convenience.

It's the combination of Madlib's brilliant sample arrangements and heavy, grimy production style with Doom's vivid poetry, dense rhyme schemes and rare charisma that makes this black and white cartoon one of the greatest projects hip hop has ever seen.

The greatest work in contemporary classical? What Stravinsky does with tonality and rhythm is so brilliant and yet it forms such a small part of this piece. With an orchestra of 25 winds, 18 brass and 6 percussive accompanying a massive string section, the instrumental backbone provides incredible timbre on its own. However, Stravinsky takes it so much further in his arranging. Each section and instrument is utilized to its maximum effect, providing contrasting tone colors and wild interactions ... read more

A mastery of minimalism.