70

Best boldy project in a minute

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
80

Much more stripped back and acoustic than the records that preceded and followed, but excellent nonetheless. Great guitar work, vocals, (along with bass and drums)—just great performances altogether. Also immigrant song!
+: Immigrant Song, Friends, Out on the Tiles, Tangerine, That’s The Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
-: Hats off to Harper

The Black Keys - Brothers
70

Although there are a handful of especially catchy tracks on this record, and it undoubtedly is a step-up from 2008’s “Attack & Release,” some of the songs feel plain and melodramatic. Additionally, the themes of love and obsession are hammered on repeatedly to the point of drying out.
+: Everlasting Light, Tighten Up, The Only One, Never Gonna Give You Up, These Days
-: Next Girl, The Go Getter, Black Mud

Quelle Chris - DEATHFAME
80

Quelle adds another excellent release to his list; this is for sure his darkest and most unnerving album and he absolutely nails it.
+: Alive Ain’t Always Living, The Sky is Blue Because the Sun is Red, Cui Prodest, Excuse My Back, King in Black, Feed the Heads, So Tired You Cant Stop Dreaming, DEATHFAME, The Agency of the Future, How Could They Love Something Like Me?
-: Die Happy Knowing They’ll Care

The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention
70

This is very good—probably the best side project from any Radiohead member. Really cool rhythms and progressions for the most part as well.
+: The Smoke, Speech Bubbles, The Same, You Will Never Work In Television Again, A Hairdryer, Pana-Vision, Thin Thing,
-: Free In The Knowledge, Waving a White Flag

Black Star - No Fear Of Time
60

A great comeback that doesn’t quite live up to the debut, but is great nonetheless.
+: o.G., So be it, Sweetheart. Sweethard. Sweetodd., My Favorite Band, The main thing…, Yonders, Freequency, No fear of time
-: Supreme alchemy (if I had to choose)

Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
70

This will take a long long time to digest… some moments were underwhelming and some were really good although I prefer The Heart Part 5 over every track here.
+: United in Grief, Worldwide Steppers, Father Time, We Cry Together, Auntie Diaries, Mr. Morale, Mother I Sober, Mirror
-: Rich Spirit, Count Me Out, Silent Hill

Toro y Moi - MAHAL
60

It’s good and pleasant and catchy, but sometimes the vocals seem a little flat and the feel of every track can blend together.
+: The Loop, Last Year, Magazine, Clarity, Deja Vu
-: Foreplay

Arcade Fire - WE
40

This record is a step in the right direction but still unfortunately has so many annoying decisions that take away from it. Anyway, title track really sounds like tangerine by Led Zeppelin.
+: WE, The Lightning I, The Lightning
-: Unconditional I, Unconditional II, Age of Anxiety I

redveil - learn 2 swim
70

Impressive that as a teen Redveil is outdoing many of his experienced contemporaries.
+: pg baby, shoulder, automatic, home, mars
-: together, sky,

Pusha T - It's Almost Dry
70

It’s good but not quite as good as it could’ve been :/ — a lot of things to love, a couple of things to not love…
+: Brambleton, Let The Smokers Shine The Coupe, Neck & Wrist, Diet Coke, Hear Me Clearly
-: Call My Bluff, Scrape It Off,

Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia
70

It’s the last album again? Like better sometimes and worse sometimes…
+: In ár gCroíthe Go deo, Bloomsday, Skinty Fia, Nabokov
-: Roman Holiday, The Couple Across The Way, How Cold Love Is

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Omnium Gatherum
60

All over the place and not necessarily in a good or bad way…
+: The Dripping Tap, Gaia, Predator X
-: The Garden Goblin, Magenta Mountain, Sadie Sorceress

Fivio Foreign - B.I.B.L.E.
40

Has some solid tracks, but the LP is ultimately pretty one-sided and same-y.
+: City of Gods, Through the Fire, Whoever
-: What’s My Name, For Nothin, Feel My Struggle, B.I.B.L.E. Talk, Love Songs,

Vince Staples - RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART
70

Possibly Vince’s strongest project ever… really a pleasant surprise considering I didn’t love his project last year.
+: AYE!, DJ QUIK, MAGIC, WHEN SPARKS FLY, SLIDE, PAPERCUTS, PLAYER WAYS, ROSE STREET, THE BLUES
-: EAST POINT PRAYER

Real Bad Man - On High Alert Vol. 4
70

Water-tight collection of excellent boom bap tracks
+: Back on One, Pot of Gold, Big Boy Deli, Belong on Boats, This is What It Is, Game Don’t Stop, Live It Up
-: Stuck in Our Ways (if I had to choose)

MED, Blu & Madlib - Bad Neighbor
60

Disappointing considering the names involved…
+: Knock Knock, Burgundy Whip, Drive In
-: Get Money, Streets, Finer Things

Wallows - Tell Me That It's Over
30

It’s relatively plain indie rock…
+: Especially You, At the End of the Day, Guitar Romantic Search Adventure
-: Permanent Price, Missing Out, Thats What I Get,

Dreamville - D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
60

I get that this is a pretty casual, thrown-together mixtape but there’s seriously just like a lot of stuff here that could’ve been so good had they spent more time on it.
+: Barry From Simpson, Everybody Ain’t Shit, Coming Down, Ghetto Gods Freestyle, Omen’s part in Starting 5
-: Lifestyle, Like Wine, Jozi Flows, Ballin in Newport

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