MAYSON's PARTY - PARTY4YOU
65

Overall solid ska and j-rock record which is let down by some gimmickier cuts towards the end, especially track Yummy Yummy.

Artist Running Club - Lilac Skies
55

Pulling from the Synthpop/New Wave of acts like Divinyls and The Buggles and bedroom pop/psych rock combinations inspired by acts like Tame Impala, MIKA and Ball Park Music, the former members of Young Monks' new group Artist Running Club have a solid foundation but not a lot to really push themselves into anything overly memorable.

Sinder - Convergence of Sin
35

The mix is so fucking muddy. This would be a decent song, maybe a 6 - 6.5 outside of that but my god it all feels like the instruments all sludge together over the top of her vocals.

Danny Brown - Quaranta
90

For as funny as lines about having Mexican homies named Chinese Mike are, this album has given me a new perspective into an artist who I'm very late to the partly for. Rapping about gentrification of neighbourhoods, what his place is as a rapper at the age of 40 and his path to get here with the pressure to keep putting out music, it's easily one of the most introspective records of the year while still always having a sense of crass humour.

¥$ - VULTURES
NR

The inevitable Kanye West and Central Cee EP gonna be at the bottom of my "Do Not Listen it's not worth it trust me" pile

EAST AV3 - DAYTRIP TO THE NIGHTTRAP
60

This new EP by Kuarna/Adelaide rap group East Av3 feels like a distorted mash of Kid Cudi's MOTM 1 mixed with k-rap, especially feeling like their flows are lifted from Korean Australian rap group 1300 at times. There are times where this combo definitely works, with tracks like WTFO and IN MY HEAD being highlights, but the EP feels a little one note at times.

André 3000 - New Blue Sun
60

I feel like this album gets better as it goes along for sure but my god the start is an absolute slog. "Rap album" and "Do You Agree" feel like they lack a lot of progression which kind of colours my opinion on this record a lot from the outset. There's some really good moments, especially with the transition from Ghandi/Bundy into Ants To You, but the overall experience felt like it was lacking something. I ain't gonna deny that Andre is a talented flutist and musician and ... read more

Slugwater - In My Way
65

From the depths of the YouTube algorithm, there's definitely fun to be had but there's something that kind of ruins the energy, something feels out of place on this song and IDK what evxactly it is. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

The Kid LAROI - THE FIRST TIME
15

Correction 21 Dec 2023
I thought for some reason D4vd was Australian, so yeah, Kid Laroi has absolutely no connection to Australia on his debut album. Can Australians stop pretending this is a big moment for Australian artists?
----------------------------------------------------------
The First Time by The Kid Laroi is one of my least anticipated albums of all time, however, I feel like it's only fair I give this a fair shot as I'm seeing some more positive coverage than I was expecting.

The ... read more

AJR - The Maybe Man
NR

Listen, I'm not rating this because I haven't listened to the whole record and I really don't want to, but I need to understand. Why are yall so heated about people not liking AJR's music? I ain't gonna knock anyone who likes it, I definitely liked it at a time but god it's just... I've moved past it in time as I've listened to more music.
I've sampled it and I just don't really care to listen more.

Enna Alouette - Mushroom
70

It's a good psychadelic folk song but I don't think it needs to be 6 minutes long. Feels like it's made for an indie RPGMaker Horror.

Tkay Maidza - Sweet Justice
60

I can't tell why but this album just isn't doing it for me. Tkay feels like she's playing it extremely safe on this record after her extremely varied and hard hitting LYWW series. It almost feels like Tkay is painting herself into a corner on this record.

On the positive note, this album runs amazingly, songs transition from one to another to another, especially how transitioning in and out of Ring-A-Ling and Silent Assassin feel so natural on how smooth this thing is. It's honestly an ... read more

Laur - Stigma
65

The god of Rhythm Game boss songs goes crazy on this new 4 track EP whuch includes a collab with another staple of Rhythm Games, HyuN. Viyella is a pretty standard Laur affair with violins fighting with hardcore EDM, you know what you're getting into here. Invader mixes that EDM with some k-pop stylings for one of the most interesting fusions I've heard from a Rhythm Game artist even if it's a little awkward at first. Lunatixxx Gear (vs HyuN) was a track made as a boss song for the game Rotaeno ... read more

FRIDAY* - Darling
65

It's fine lo-fi EDM

June Jones - Bubblegum
75

A little generic of a single in terms of dance tracks but still just a fun longing vibe of a sad banger

Flying Raccoon Suit - Moonflower
75

Flying Raccoon Suit continue to be one of the most diverse ska outfits out there right now. This album folks in so many different musical elements into ska, including metal, big band and surf rock. Solidly tight even if it isn't as provocative as some of the best in the game like JER, Rosenstock or Catbite and absolutely one of the best ska releases of the year.

85

Emotionally devastating midwest emo is my vibe. It can definitely feel like it can stagnate vocally at times but an all around a great time (I feel extremely uncomfortable from the lyrical devastation that I experienced)

flowerkid - LET IT BE ENOUGH
40

I'm disappointed in flowerkid's new release. It feels way more toned down, less experimental, less raw. The track SIXTEEN is the closest thing to his old work, and maybe MELATONE, but this just feels sanded down. His debut work like Boy With The Winfields had this raw and evocative world and lyrical atmosphere, he would dive into drum and bass, EDM, all these harder, more abrasive sounds while still keeping the emotional intimacy on tracks like its happening again with KUCKA.
This EP on the ... read more

Pendulum - Anima
50

This was honestly disappointing. The first two tracks are highlights, albeit the live version of Colourfast they did for Like a Version was just more visceral, but this EP just kind of went out on a whimper. Mercy Killing was alright but god, Silent Spinning was such a nothing track to end on it felt like background noise.
First two songs go crazy though.

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