XX121

For the most part, Your Favorite Toy is a painfully standard Foo Fighters project, with little to offer in regards to originality or genuinely engaging alternative sounds. The main problem throughout is the LP's insistent attempts to craft an entirely inoffensive listen throughout the course of its scattered track list, with the bland rock and post-grunge sounds being so watered down that aside from admittedly strong opening and closing tracks, the bulk of the album is largely forgettable. ... read more

Considering the list of talents that Cheat Codes boasts, it's no surprise the album has grown to be regarded as a modern classic. Black Thought consistently delivers masterful lyricism, blending dense, internal rhyme schemes with relentless flows even nearly 30 years since his debut with The Roots. This is matched by standout instrumentals from Danger Mouse, who crafts this almost cinematic atmosphere through dusty, textured sample flips that compliment Black Thought perfectly. ... read more

Angine de Poitrine's 'Vol.II' sees the alien duo return to the absurd, with their polka-dot coated, glam-rock Slipknot costumes being only second in weirdness to the music included on the LP. The psychedelic math-rock style feels ripped straight from the cosmos, and is a genuinely fun, refreshing project in a music landscape that often lacks this level of life.

I can only hope that the pair's recent rise to fame may signal a subtle shift in interest towards more ... read more

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Thundercat's first full length LP since 2020 doesn't disappoint, with a consistently solid selection of tracks backed up by a handful of impressive features, mainly appearing in the album's stronger 1st half. The project isn't anything revolutionary, but for Thunder's more relaxed, neo-soul and jazz funk style it's a welcome addition to his catalogue. Distracted can, at points, become a little repetitive with somewhat underwhelming moments ... read more