I was writing this review while I was sick, spending all my attention to feel this masterpiece again. My first encounter with Kendrick Lamar was good kid, m.A.A.d city. I remember how shocked I was when the album dropped, and I immediately bought the deluxe CD version. Back then, I didn't like Backseat Freestyle and Money Trees because they sounded unorthodox (I used to only listen to radio-friendly hip-hop music, don't judge me).

This album is monumental to the rap game. It ... read more

This album is so grunge that it made me not recognise Smashing Pumpkins. The primal, rawest form of the band delivered powerful vocals and youthful energy on this album, making it a great listening experience. There are no complicated or deep messages here to decipher. The band named this album Gish after silent film actress Lillian Gish. There isn't much else to say.

It's a solid debut. I particularly like Rhinoceros and Daydream. There are few lows here but not many highs either, ... read more

I don't know why I'm so eager to revisit albums I've listened to many times before. Looking back at Björk's discography is always a pleasure because every revisit offers a new perspective on her world. I used to prefer Vespertine over Homogenic by a wide margin, but not anymore.

These two albums are equally ambitious with unorthodox sound design. I was initially put off by the inconsistency in Homogenic compared to the seamless experience of Vespertine. However, after ... read more

I just revisited this album and can finally confirm that this is the most immaculate one I've ever heard. This album contains only 9 tracks, and it flows perfectly from start to finish, smooth as butter. I felt like I was being transported to the quietest, most peaceful ocean depths, surrounded by mermaids and blissful joy.

I like how genuine and simple this album is, delivering some of the warmest, lushest, and most ethereal listening experiences imaginable. It's the perfect example ... read more

Let's start the new year with an exciting review. This album had been in my spin list for a long time, but I could never finish it in one sitting because it's 2 hours long. In the past, I've found problems in classic double rock albums such as the Beatles' White Album and Pink Floyd's The Wall. No matter how brilliant some songs are, there are always fillers in a list of over 20 tracks. I can only think of one textbook example of how to carry tension and build on it ... read more

My Bloody Valentine was my first encounter with shoegaze, and I was completely blown away by their masterpiece, Loveless. It's still impactful to this day. However, as I've explored more shoegaze bands like Ride, Bowery Electric, and Curve, and my experience has grown, I've found far more problems with this sequel. After revisiting it, OMG, why did I originally rate this at 80? I'm definitely downgrading it.

This album sounds like recycled demos and Loveless leftovers. The ... read more

I've listened to this album 10+ times in a row just to confirm my feelings about it. It has great potential to be an all-time classic. The band plays incredibly well on every track (some of the most dissonant riffs I've ever heard), but the vocals are rough and ugly. I know Sonic Youth came out as a No Wave band, and this album is meant to be expressive and cynical rather than catchy. But that's not an excuse for a very uneven tracklist and inconsistent listening experience.

As ... read more

This is a promising comeback album from Slowdive. The authentic dream pop sound returns, evoking the same feeling I experienced with Just for a Day (arguably my favourite Slowdive album). What makes this album stand out is its cohesiveness without succumbing to monotony through a constant dreamy/ambient mood, which they failed so hard at in their third album.

This album doesn't attempt to surpass their sonic peak but rather showcases a more refined, mature side of the band. My favourite ... read more

This album marked the fall of Slowdive and is a major departure from the band's shoegaze/dream pop signature. I found this album bland, boring, and hollow. The album length is 48 minutes, which seems right for most bands, but it's actually the longest in Slowdive's discography (the second disc of their debut album is a bonus disc from the 2005 reissue which comprises the band's early EPs). It serves the purpose of a lullaby, lacking highs and lows.

The theme of this album ... read more

I have nearly no experience with post-hardcore, and this album sounds more like noise rock to me (thanks Nirvana's In Utero). It took me a while to grasp the theme. This album is about nihilism and grief. The guitars and drums are heavy and bleak but somehow sonically pleasant at the same time. The track Lowest Common Denominator is the prime example. It sounds frustrating but groovy in a way that makes you want to lean into those frustrations.

The last four tracks are killers. They wrap ... read more

This is one of those acclaimed classics that gets praised as the greatest album of all time just because a handful of songs were used in people's favourite movies. I'm not going to agree or argue with the hipsters here. Is Rumours the greatest album of all time? No. Is Rumours the best rock album? No. Is Rumours overrated? Yes and no.

This album is close to a no-skip for me. I really like Dreams and The Chain. The musical quality here is absolutely pristine and can't be denied, ... read more

It's rare to hear a DJ sample vocals so well in tracks without an MC. This album is a bit too long but packed with good quality dance tracks. I don't have much to say about this album. Just press play (as the album title says) and enjoy a skilful DJ serving up his tracks. The genre is somehow confusing me because I think it's more of a Big Beat relative. If you didn't tell me it was a Moby album, I might think Fatboy Slim or Prodigy was experimenting with new sounds.

I have ... read more

I seldom listen to non-English music because I don't get the meaning of the lyrics, but electronic music is an exception (too lazy to translate). The last time I felt this kind of warmth in electronic music was with Daft Punk's Discovery, but that album is more exciting and danceable.

As an album title, Moon Safari is brilliant. It makes me feel like I'm traveling alone on a space odyssey, driving across the moon. When I get back to the space station, I'm so lonely and ... read more

Paramore fans think this is their best album, and I think it might be true. I've only listened to three albums from the band, starting with their self-titled, and I wasn't a big fan of the generic sound on their previous album After Laughter. This album was recorded during the pandemic, and the outcome was very well received by both critics and fans. I did not expect Paramore to nail the post-punk/new wave sound like this. The playful tunes of C'est Comme Ça are like icing ... read more

This might be the most underrated but most badass shoegaze album ever. The sound design is completely out of the box, blending electro-industrial, gothic rock, and shoegaze so damn well: loud, complex, and entrancing. Toni Halliday's vocal performance here is just off the charts. Horror Head is my favourite shoegaze anthem (MBV's Soon comes in as a close second). I replay Already Yours and Faît Accompli again and again. There aren't enough words to describe how incredible ... read more

This is what a peak quality pop album should sound like. It's uplifting and sensational, doesn't need to be that deep but so damn enjoyable. Tracks 4 to 6 form one of the most insane three-track runs I've ever experienced. Every song is meticulously produced, creative, and ridiculously intriguing. Sure, there are some highs and lows, especially a slight dip in the middle, but even the weakest track here would stand out on other pop albums. That's how consistently brilliant ... read more

Before I dive into this mid-career refreshing album (the band is going to last for the next decade, so don't hit me please), I have to ask: why is this categorised as "power pop"? It sounds exactly like the music pop rock artists (think Avril Lavigne) or emo pop punk bands were making in the 2000s post-grunge era. This album is so poppy that some tracks are still getting airtime on radio and in shopping malls.

Back to the topic. This album works in ways that don't need to ... read more

I first discovered Imogen Heap through her incredible work on Details with Frou Frou, the duo she formed with Guy Sigsworth. Speak for Yourself feels like she took that same magic and ran with it solo. This time she's handling all the production herself, crafting this poppy sound adventure without Sigsworth in the studio. The whole album drips with that mid-2000s pop aesthetic, and honestly, it feels like Imogen at her most authentic. Her instrumental choices here are lighter and less ... read more

This is the third Orbital album I’ve listened to from this legendary techno duo, and honestly, their second album with the mighty track Halcyon + On + On still holds my top spot as my all-time favourite techno track. Their sound just radiates pure pioneer energy. I’ve always noticed that many of the best electronic acts come in pairs such as Boards of Canada, Daft Punk, Autechre, and Moloko, and Orbital definitely belong among them.

This album is criminally underrated. It ... read more

I can’t quite tell whether this is a techno or house album, but it perfectly captures the essence of 1990s electronic music with its cold, dark textures and dub-inspired sound reminiscent of something Massive Attack might create.

My favourite tracks are Dark & Long, Surfboy, and Cowgirl. Track 2 feels a bit drawn out, but it’s still a dope listen. The rest of the album holds my attention from start to finish, unlike many long and repetitive electronic records that fade into the ... read more